WARWICK WOODLANDS. 150 



freshet, they left him there breast uppermost and I was glad 

 to find him for I think, Archer, as that shot was the nicest, 

 prettiest, etarnal, darndest, long, good shot, I iver did make, 

 anyhow ; and it was so dark I couldn't see him." 



" A sweet shot, Tom," responded Forester, " a sweet pretty 

 shot, if there had only been one word of truth in it, which there 

 is not don't answer me, you old thief shut up instantly, and 

 get your traps ; for we've done feeding, and you've done lying, 

 for the present, at least I hope so and now we'll out, and see 

 whether you've poached up all the game in the country." 



" Well, it be gettin' late for sartain," answered Tom, " and 

 that'll save your little wax skin for the time ; but see, jest see, 

 boy, if I doesn't sarve you out, now, afore sundown !" 



" Which way shall we beat, Tom," asked Harry, as he changed 

 his riding boots for heavy shooting shoes and leggins ; " which 

 course to-day ?" 



" Why, Timothy's gittin' out the wagon, and we'll drive up 

 the old road round the ridge, and so strike in by Minthorne's, 

 and take them ridges down, and so across the hill there's some 

 big stubbles there, and nice thick brush holes along the fence 

 sides, and the boys does tell us there be one or two big bevies 

 but, cuss them, they will lie ! and over back of Gin'ral Ber- 

 tolf 's barns, and so acrost the road, and round the upper eend of 

 the big pond, and down the long swamp into Hell hole, and 

 Tim can meet us with the wagon at five o'clock, under Bill Wis- 

 ner's white oak does that suit you ?" 



" Excellently well, Tom," replied Harry, " I could not have 

 cut a better day's work out myself, if I had tried. Well, all the 

 traps are in, and the dogs, Timothy, is it not so ?" 



" Ey ! ey ! Sur," shouted that worthy from without, " all in, 

 this half-hour, and all roight !" 



" Light your cigars then, quick, and let us start hurrah !" 



Within two minutes, they were all seated, Fat Tom in the 

 post of honor by Harry's side upon the driving box, the Com- 

 modore and Frank, with Timothy, on the back seat, and off they 

 rattled ten miles an hour without the whip, up hill and down 

 dale all alike, for they had but three miles to go, and that was 

 gone in double quick time. 



" What mun Ay do wi' t' horses, Sur ?" asked Tim, touching 

 his castor as he spoke. 



" Take them home, to be sure," replied Harry, " and meet us 



