TOM DRAW'S VISIT TO PINE BROOK. 195 



spot ! You know, John, we always find birds there, when they 

 can't be found anywhere else." 



On we went, after a re-invigorating cup of mountain-dew, 

 with spirits raised at the prospect of some sport at last, and as 

 we bagged the snipe which Harry was right had fallen killed 

 quite dead, the sun came out hot, broad, and full. The birds 

 were lying thick among the stunted bushes and warm bubbling 

 springs which covered, in this portion of the ground, some 

 twenty acres of marsh meadow ; and as the afternoon waxed 

 warm, they lay right well before the dogs, which, having learned 

 the consequences of misdemeanor, behaved with all discretion. 

 We shot well I and the sport waxed so fast and furious, that till 

 the shades of evening fell, we had forgotten all the three that 

 our luncheon, saving the article of drams, was still untasted ; 

 and that, when we assembled at seven of the clock in Hard's 

 cozey parlor, and shook out of bag and pocket our complement 

 of sixty-three well-grown and well-fed snipe, we were in reason- 

 able case to do good justice to a right good supper. 



THE PARTING DRINK. 



BREAKFAST concluded, the next morning we pulled our fen 

 boots on, and on the instant up rattled Timothy, who had dis- 

 appeared a few minutes before, with the well-known drag to the 

 door, guns stowed away, dogs whimpering, and sticking out 

 their eager noses between the railings of the box game bags 

 well packed with lots of prog and of spare ammunition. 



Away we rattled at a brisk pace, swinging round corner after 

 corner, skilfully shaving the huge blocks of stone, and dexter- 

 ously quartering the deep ravine-like ruts which grace the roads 

 of Jersey crossing two or three bridges over as many of those 

 tributaries of the beautiful Passaic, which water this superb 

 snipe-country and reaching at least a sweep of smooth level 

 road parallel to a long tract of meadows under the widow Mul- 

 ford's. And here, mort de ma vie ! that was a shot from the 

 snipe-ground, and right on our beat, too Ay ! there are two 

 guns, and two, three, pointers ! liver and white a brace, and 

 one all liver. 



