A YANKEE ' SOLD/ 255 



was now concluded, and no more was to be gained 

 by holding my tongue, I determined to fire into the 

 enemy a parting broadside that would there and then 

 floor him. 



' I say, Ike, you took me for a Yorker/ 



' Jist so/ 



'Well, I'm not/ 



' Guess you are not far short of it/ 



' Yes, I am ; for I am a Britisher/ 



' Well, darn me, if that's not the second time I've 

 been sold the same fashion;' adding (and here spoke 

 the true Republican), ' but one that can handle a 

 shooting-iron the same fashion you did this day, gi 'n 

 he Yankee or Britisher, must be some punkins/ 



The number of these rails killed at a tide is 

 sometimes enormous. Suffice it to say, that I have 

 known a rather indifferent shot bring ten dozen to 

 bag. In no description of sport are the advantages 

 of the breech-loader over the old form of gun so 

 apparent as when shooting sorra-rails in the immense 

 marshes that margin the embouchures of many of 

 the American rivers. 



