Hunting in the Golden Days. 47 



such impjDrtant guests as Sir John and Mr. Goodbery. 

 At Sir John's invitation the landlord very willingly 

 fetches himself a glass of rum and his churchwarden, 

 and joins the two other gentlemen. 



Boniface does not consider it unbusinesslike to relax 

 a little occasionally, and to chat about the future of 

 nations, for a sort of village Parliament is held nightly 

 at the Green Dragon, and matters of no small import- 

 ance are settled here, from the shoeing of a horse to the 

 downfall of an empire. In the summer time the court 

 usually sits out of doors at a long settle, fixed along the 

 front of the inn. As the evenings draw in and become 

 cold, the politicians adjourn to the taproom — a very 

 pleasant little room, with sanded floor and spacious oak 

 settles. 



Over the mantelpiece hangs a picture of thrilling 

 interest, entitled, "Squire Miller's Hounds in Full Cry." 

 From a beam in the blackened ceiling hangs a line with 

 a ring attached, and on the opposite wall a board is 

 fixed, with a painting of a bull's head with a hook in its 

 nose. This game of skill is called ring-the-bull, the 

 object being to so swing the ring that it will catch on 

 the hook. By means of this game it is often decided 

 who is to pay for the ale. The landlord is a great adept, 

 and can often accomplish the desired feat with both eyes 

 shut. Ring-the-bull and backgammon are the two 

 favourite pastimes indulged in at the Green Dragon. 



Strange tales are related in the taproom of the Green 

 Dragon when the snow lies deep on the ground and 

 the wind whistles down the chimney. There is one 

 wizened little old man, who was formerly a horse- 

 dealer, but has now apparently no other business than 

 to frequent the Green Dragon, who tells tales of ghosts 

 and hobgoblins which are particularly gruesome. He 



