WARWICK WOODLANDS. 133 



be needed* I knew that for three or four miles I could outrun 

 him, if it should come to the worst, though in the end a wolf 

 can run down the fastest horse ; and, as every mile brought me 

 nearer to the settlement, I did not care much about it. Had it 

 been winter, when the brutes are hard pressed for food, and the 

 deep snows are against a horse's speed, it would be a very dif- 

 ferent thing. Hurrah ! here we are ! Hurrah ! fat Tom ! ahoy ! 

 a-ho-oy I" 



THE SUPPER PARTY. 



BLITHE, loud and hearty was the welcome of fat Tom, when 

 by the clear view halloa with which Harry drove up to the door 

 at a spanking trot, the horses stopping willingly at the high 

 well-known stoop, he learned who were these his nocturnal visi- 

 ters. There was a slight tinge of frostiness in the evening air, 

 and a bright blazing fire filled the whole bar-room with a cheer- 

 ful merry light, and cast a long stream of red lustre from the 

 tall windows, and halt-open doorway, but in an instant all that 

 escaped from the last mentioned aperture was totally obstructed, 

 as if the door had been pushed to, by the huge body of mine host. 



" Why, darn it,'* he exclaimed, " if that beant Archer ! and 

 a hull grist of boys he's brought along with him, too, any how. 

 How are you, Harry, who've you got along ? It's so etarnal 

 thunderin' dark as I carnt see 'em no how !" 



" Frank and the Commodore, that's all," Archer replied, " and 

 how are you, old Corporation ?" 



" Oh ! oh ! I'm most darned glad as you've brought A ; 



you might have left that other critter to home, though, jest as 

 well we doosn't want him blowin' out his little hide here ; 

 lazin' about, and doin' nothin' day nor night but eat and grum- 

 ble ; and drink, and drink, as if he'd got a meal-sack in his little 

 guts. Why, Timothy, how be you ?" he concluded, smiting him 

 on the back a downright blow, that would have almost felled an 

 ox, as he was getting out the baggage. 



u Doant thee noo, Measter Draa, 5 ' expostulated Tim, " behaave 

 thyself, man, or Ay'se give thee soomat thou woant loike, I'm 

 thinking. Noo ! send oot yan o' t' nagers, joost to stand till t' 

 nags till Ay lift oot t' boxes !" 



