THE MONNIELACK SHOOTINGS 159 



the bride left us he turned to the butler to order him to bring 

 another bottle, just as if he had been in his own house, while 

 remarking to the company in general — 



" I daresay some of you will help me out, though it don't 

 much matter, for the walk has given me such a thirst that I 

 feel as if I never could quench it." 



The Colonel said nothing, but told his servant to bring the 

 wine, at which Captain Spiller went with a will. 



. The bottle- was nearly done, when he moved somewhat 

 unsteadily up the table to seat himself next the Colonel, and 

 clapping him on the back, said — 



" Come on, old boy, order me another bottle ; it does not 

 cost you very dear, I'm sure; so while I finish it, you can tell 

 us three poor devils how much profit you are making out of 

 us." 



" Sir ! " exclaimed Auldjoe ; while I joined in with — 



"Come, come, Captain Spiller, pray do not forget yourself; 

 you will be sorry for your rudeness in tlie morning, and, in the 

 meantime, as you appear knocked up, don't you think bed would 

 be the best place for you ? " 



He retorted, " Bed be blowed ; mean to draw the old boy 

 first ; must have some fun for my coin, you see, and if a month 

 of this sort of thing for two hundred and fifty pounds is not 

 downright 



" Halloo ! confound you, sir," yelled Spiller to Auldjoe, 

 who, having deliberately placed the lighted end of his cigar 

 on the back of one of the Captain's hands, was staring sternly 

 at the ceiling. " You lanky, tall-hatted, black-coated old idiot, 



I'll " but here the Colonel jumped up, rang the bell sharply, 



and turned to us, saying — 



" Let us leave him, gendemen, while, as the drawing-room 

 is occupied by Mrs. Spiller, I hope you will come with me to 

 my own little sanctum, to smoke there." 



To this our intoxicated gunner replied, " Well, I never did 

 meet three such " ; but the butler's entrance cut short the 



