cny Fathet^'s fldventu^es. 47 



Another marker, when many hares, birds, vencock, 

 and various had' been added to the bag, anxious to 

 increase the total to the utmost, said, " Now then, 

 sir, I've marked in a suite by that ' plump of virs,' 

 ef your honour would like to go fore and ha' a shot." 

 But as the ''virs" were a quarter of a mile back, 

 instead of " vore," my father declined, with thanks ; 

 and being rather done with the heat and hills, he 

 called at a roadside inn for some beer to refresh 

 himself and the others with him. When the beer 

 was brought out it was freely consumed by the 

 markers, but my father and his friends could not 

 drink it, as it had been doctored with sugar or treacle 

 to rectify the effects of a thunderstorm. My father 

 was longing for a fresh, foaming draught, and asked 

 the woman of the inn if she had any bottled beer or 

 bottled porter. She replied, " No, sir, we haven't 

 got any bottled beer or bottled porter, but we've got 

 some bottled rum and bottled gin." The latter 

 might have done if copiously diluted ; but the water 

 there had a red iron sediment in it. So the shooting 

 party, thirsty though they were, determined to 

 betake themselves to their own inn. 



On the way back the markers, in groups of three 

 or four, turned off, from time to time, in the direc- 

 tion of their homes. And, with a bow, and " I wish 

 your honours a good aveling," departed, much 

 pleased with their day's sport. And though they 



