170 



THE WAGER DECIDED. 



Hennessey, the steel-yard produce despatch one, two, 

 three, four. You killed one apiece, I presume, and Andy 

 gaffed the other two ; nay, commander of the faithful, look not 

 so ferocious. What, no more ! and is this paltry creel of fish 

 the produce of the day ? Colonel, I blush for you. Barely 

 forty pounds. Turn that clave* over, and put these gentlemen 

 of the angle out of pain/' As he spoke, the attendant emptied 

 the contents of the pannier, and nine well-sized salmon, with a 

 multitude of sea-trouts, rolled out upon the sward. 



"By my faith!" exclaimed the commander, "these fish 

 were never fairly killed ; you drafted a hole or two, as surely 

 as I am a sinner." 



"The latter part of your remark I admit," said my kins- 

 man, " the former I deny. By this virgin hand ! every fish 

 before you was killed by hook and line. Come, are you for 



* A horsebasket 



