68 The Wild-Fowlers 



his little black eyes shining from his fat 

 head like two jet beads. 



" The battery, of course/' answered 

 Seth for his friend; " that 's the best 

 name for it out of all the things it 's 

 called. Its other appellations are sink- 

 box, coffin box, raft boat, surface boat, 

 marine cellar, and ducking machine." 



"Then you agree to our driving?" 

 asked Bradley, as the ferryboat pushed its 

 way into the dock. 



* To be sure!" echoed Seth and Cor- 

 bin, and William was hurried back into 

 the wagon. 



Away the spanking team went the sec- 

 ond the ferry chains were down, Bradley 

 holding the ribbons, while his faithful 

 man busied himself plying the skins and 

 great-coats about the feet and hips of 

 Corbin, whose enormous fat seemed no 

 protection from the chilling wind of that 

 fine April afternoon. 



The road through Long Island City 

 was rough-cobbled, and the surrounding 



