22 l^ACT AGAINST FICtlOX. 



allude sallied forth ; it was in tlie earliest part of 

 October, and the beat was in the fields, with an 

 occasional double hedge or spinny. The guns at one 

 time were divided, some to walk the turnips, while 

 two others took either side of a thick liedo-e. While 

 proceeding thus, an under-keeper, who had been told 

 off to mark, came running up to us in a state of con- 

 siderable excitement. As he approached he was 

 damned by the master of the party for quitting 

 his post; but resolutely, terrifically breathless, he 

 came on, and when close to his master, in enor- 

 mous consternation, blurted forth, as far as I could 

 make out, the following words, — 



^^ Oh, Lard ! oh. Lard ! Measter G.'s a squatted 

 down in t'e dike, a rived 'isself of 's duds, and 's a 

 dressing on 'isself in a wuzzle le'f." 



^^What?" roared all within hearing, not being 

 able to comprehend the local language of the ex- 

 cited under-keeper — '' What?" 



The master of the party, however, knew the 

 import of the blurted-out intelligence, and bidding 

 us all stand still, hastened away Avith his informant. 

 Tlie fact was, that Master G. had bethought 

 himself of the very warm day, and, desiring cooler 

 raiment, he had undressed himself, and Avas endea- 



