WARWICK WOODLANDS. 23 



such an etarnal fuss about, toting it up here every time, as if 

 we'd nothing fit to drink in the country !" 



And to my sorrow I did taste it old apple whiskey, with 

 Lord knows how much snake-root soaked in it for five years ! 

 They may talk about gall being bitter ; but, by all that's won- 

 derful, there was enough of the amari aliquid in this fonte, to 

 me by no means of leporum, to have given an extra touch of 

 bitterness to all the gall beneath the canopy ; and with my 

 mouth puckered up, till it was like anything on earth but a 

 mouth, I set the glass down on the table ; and for the next five 

 minutes could do nothing but shake my head to and fro like a 

 Chinese mandarin, amidst the loud and prolonged roars of 

 laughter that burst like thunder claps from the huge jaws of 

 Thomas Draw, and the subdued and half respectful cachinna- 

 tions of Tim Matlock. 



By the time I had got a little better, the black tea was ready, 

 and with thick cream, hot buckwheat cakes, beautiful honey, 

 and as a stand by the still venerable round, we made out a 

 very tolerable meal. 



This done, with due deliberation Archer supplied his several 

 pockets with their accustomed load the clean-punched wads in 

 this in that the Westley Richards' caps here a pound horn 

 of powder there a shot-pouch on Syke's lever principle, with 

 double mouth-piece in another, screw-driver, nipple-wrench, 

 and the spare cones ; and, to make up the tale, dog-whip, dram- 

 bottle, and silk handkerchief in the sixth and last. 



" Nothing like method in this world," said Harry, clapping 

 his low-crowned broad-brimmed mohair cap upon his head ; 

 " take my word for it. Now, Tim, what have you got in the 

 bag 3" 



" A bottle of champagne, sur," answered Tim, who was now 

 employed slinging a huge fustian game-bag, with a net-work 

 front, over his right shoulder, to counterbalance two full shot- 

 belts which were already thrown across the other <l a bottle of 

 champagne, sur a cold roast chicken t' Cheshire cheese and 

 t' pilot biscuits. Is your dram-bottle filled wi' t' whiskey, please 

 sur 3" 



" Aye, aye, Tim. Now let loose the dogs carry a pair of 

 couples and a leash along with you ; and mind you, gentlemen, 

 Tim carries shot for all hands ; and luncheon but each one 

 finds his own powder, caps, &c. ; and any one who wants a 

 dram, carries his own the devil a-one of you gets a sup out of 



