186 TOM DRAW'S VISIT TO PINE BROOK. 



dooll noo, and saft loike, wi' V wind sootherly but it's boon to 

 be noogbt at all, Ayse warrant it. T' Soon'll be oot enoo see 

 if he beant and t' snaipe '11 laie laike steans. Ayse awa noo, 

 and fetch t' het watter t' veal cootlets is i' t' pann, and John 

 Van Dyne he's been a wa-aiting iver sin 't got laight." 



u That's not very long, then," answered I, springing out of 

 bed, " at all events ; for it's as dark as pitch now ; bring me a 

 caudle, I can't shave by this light; there ! leave the door into 

 the parlor open, and tell John to come in and amuse me while 

 I'm shaving. Is Mr. Archer up ?" 



" Oop ? Weel Ay wot he is oop ; and awa wi' Measter Draa, 

 and t' lang goons, doon to t' brigg ; to watch t' doocks flay, but 

 Van Dyne says t' doocks has dean flaying." 



" Yes, yes they'se quit sartain," answered a merry voice 

 without, and in stalked John, the best fowl-shot, the best snipe- 

 marker, the best canoe-paddler, and the best fellow every way, 

 in New Jersey. 



" How are you, John ? any birds on the Piece ?" 



" Nicely !" he answered, to my first query " nicely," shak- 

 ing me warmly by the hand, and, after a pause, added, " I can't 

 say as there be ; the Piece is too wet altogether !" 



" Too wet aye ? that's bad, John !" 



"Lord, yes too wet entirely; I was half over it with the 

 canoe last week, and didn't see no not half a dozen, and they 

 was round the edges like, where there wasn't no good lying ; 

 there was a heap o' yellow legs, though, and a smart chance o* 

 plover." 



" Oh, hang the plover, John ; but shall we find no snipe ?" 



" Not upon neither of the Pieces, no how but there was 

 heaps of them a flyin' over all last night ; yes ! yes ! I guess 

 Archer and I can fix it so as we'll git a few but, do tell, who's 

 that darned fat chap as I see goin' down " 



Here he was interrupted by the distant report of a heavy gun, 

 followed almost upon the instant by a second. 



" Ding !" he exclaimed, " but there's a flight now ! ar'n't 

 there ? I guess now, Mr. Forester, I'd as well jist run down 

 with old Shot, leastwise he'll fetch urn, if so be they've fallen in 

 the water." 



" Do ! do !" cried I, " by all means, John ; and tell them to 

 come back directly ; for half the breakfast's on the table, and 

 I'll be ready by the time they're here." 



By the time I had got my jacket on, and while I was in the 



