272 FRA^M^: forester's field sports. 



nymph-like cascade, completed oiu- arrangement; and, after 

 having- laved our heated brows and hamls, begrimed with gun- 

 powder, and stained with the red witness of volucrinc slaughter, 

 stretched on the cool granite floor, and sheltered from the fierce 

 rays of the summer sun by the dark foliage of the oak — we 

 feasted, happier and more content with our frugal fare, than the 

 most lordly epicure that ever strove to stimulate his appetite to 

 the appreciation of fresh luxuries. 



" Well, Harry," exclaimed I, when I was satiate with food, 

 and while, having already quaffed two moderate horns, I was 

 engaged in emptying, alas ! the last remaining drops oP whisky 

 intii the silver cup, sparkling with pure cold water — " Well, 

 Harry, the spring is fresh, and cold, and taste'ess, as any water 

 I ever did taste ! Pity it were not situate in some Faun-haunted 

 glen of green Arcadia, or some sweet flower-enamelled dell of 

 merry England, that it might have a meeter legend for roman- 

 tic ears than your Bear story — some minstrel dream of Dryad, 

 or Oread, or of Dian's train, mortal-wooed! — some frolic tale 

 of Oberon and his blithe Titania ! — or? stranger yet, some thrill- 

 ing and disastrous lay, after the German school, of woman wail- 

 ing for her demon lover ! But, sitli it may not be, let's have the 

 Bear." 



" Well, then," replied that worthy, " first, as you must know, 

 the hero of my tale is — alas ! that T must say was, rather — a bro- 

 ther of Tom Draw, than whom no braver nor more honest man, 

 no warmer friend, no keener sportsman, ever departed to his 

 long last home, dewed T)y the tears of all who kn(!w him. He 

 was — but it boots not to weave long reminiscences — you know 

 the brother who still survives ; and, knowing him, you have the 

 veiitable picture of the defuncr, as regards soul, I mean, and 

 spirit — for he was not a mountain in tlie flesh, but a man only — 

 and a stout and good one — as, even jnore than my assertion, 

 my now forthcoming tale will testify. It was the very first 

 winter 1 had passed in the United States, that I was staying up 

 here, for the first time likewise. I had, of course, become 

 speedily intimate with Tom, with whom, indeed, it needs no 



