WARWICK WOODLANDS. 155 



small knife the larger having luckily flown many yards as he 

 fell and running in behind the struggling quarry, had seized 

 the brow antler, and at one strong and skilful blow, severed 

 the weasand and the jugular. One gush of dark red gore 

 one plunging effort, and the superb and stately beast lay mo- 

 tionless forever while the loud death halloo rang over the 

 broad valley all fears, all perils, utterly forgotton in the strong 

 rapture of that thrilling moment. 



SNIPE ON THE UPLAND. 



" Now then, boys, we've no time to lose," said Archer, as he 

 replaced his knives, which he had been employed in wiping with 

 great care, in their respective scabbards, " it's getting toward 

 eight o'clock, and I feel tolerably peckish, the milk punch and 

 biscuits notwithstanding ; we shall not be in the field before ten 

 o'clock, do our best for it. Now, Jem," he continued, as that 

 worthy, followed by David Seers and the Captain made their 

 appearance, hot and breathless, but in high spirits at the glori- 

 ous termination of the morning's sport " Now, Jem, you and 

 the Captain must look out a good strong pole, and tie that 

 fellow's legs, and carry him between you as far as Blain's house 

 you can come up with the wagon this afternoon and bring 

 him down to the village. What the deuce are you pottering 

 at that colt about, Torn ? He's not hurt a pin's value, on the 

 contrary " 



" Better for 't, I suppose, you'll be a tellin' me torights ; bet- 

 ter for that all-fired etarnal tumble, aint he ?" responded the fat 

 chap, with a lamentable attempt at an ironical smile, put on to 

 hide his real chagrin. 



" In course he is," replied Frank, who had recovered his 

 wonted equanimity, and who, having been most unmercifully 

 rallied by the whole party for leaving his bullets at home, was 

 glad of an opportunity to carry the war into the enemy's coun- 

 try, " in course he is a great deal better if a thing can be said 

 to be better which, under all circumstances, is so infernally bad, 

 as that brute. I should think he was better for it. Why, by 

 the time he's had half a dozen more such purls, he'll leap a 

 six foot fence without shaking a loose rail. In fact, I'll bet a 



