THE BLACK-TAILED AND VIRGINIA DEER. 361 



Tim through the same manoeuvres the others did. Hefty, 

 isn't she, Dandy? Your biled shirt '11 be wet if you swing 

 her much, Now swing opposite sides. You'll knock the 

 dust out o' the floor, Tildy, if you peg it away like that. 

 It'll do you good, though. All balance and swing part- 

 ners. That's life for you; that's dancin'. Even the bar- 

 rels under me are dancin' so lively that I'll soon be off. 

 Nothin' like good music. All promenade. Jerusalem ! 

 what a dust! I'm nearly choked. Fire away, though; 

 never mind me if any of you have anything like ' stone 

 fence' about you." 



With such comments as these, many of which were so 

 ludicrous that the Terpsichoreans were roaring with laugh- 

 ter, he sent all through the figure ; and, when it was over, 

 they were panting loudly, while their faces were steaming 

 and covered with perspiration. 



The dances consisted principally of quadrilles, but an oc- 

 casional polka or varsovienne was introduced, much to the 

 delight of those who knew how to " show off with them," 

 as the band expressed it. 



These exhibitions of strength were kept up almost unin- 

 terruptedly until morning, the only interval of any conse- 

 quence being that devoted to refreshments at midnight. 

 These refreshments were as solid and hearty as the Terpsi- 

 choreans themselves ; for they consisted largely of boiled 

 beef, pork, or mutton, bread-and-butter, and, for dessert, 

 sweet -cakes, cold tea and coffee, and -rosy apples. Each 

 family party brought its own provisions, and ate them off 

 improvised tables made of knees. The only seats the ma- 

 jority had were the planks of the floor, so that they lolled 

 in various attitudes, several of which were so ludicrous 

 that they would make the fortune of a pantomimist who 

 knew them. 



The hunting-party had an excellent dinner, however, in 

 the host's house, the piece de resistance being venison 

 cooked in many styles, while the fluids were confined to 

 home-made currant-wine and "stone fence," the latter be- 

 ing composed of old cider and whiskey. It is a drink that 



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