RAIL SHOOTING. 147 



man, with savage deliberation, " if you tell that 

 story, I'll see you hanged before I pay you a 

 copper, sport or no sport." 



" Sir," says the pusher in turn, " I hope you 

 won't be offinded, but I must tell you this much 

 of it I w r ore my eye out as the cat did her's, 

 watching the mice." 



"Now," retorts the other, who has at length 

 managed to re-charge his piece, " now mind you, 

 fellow, if you give me " 



" Hush !" exclaims the pusher, pointing and 

 staring in his energetic way at some object on 

 his right hand ; " shoot, sir, shoot." 



The fat gentleman starts, and catching a 

 glimpse of something swimming among the 

 reeds, levels his gun and fires both barrels. 



" Hurrah !" shouts the pusher, frantically be- 

 taking himself to his pole, " you've pinked him 

 you've settled his hash you've mortalized your- 

 self on this mash." 



"What is it?" demands the shooter in a state 

 of great excitement. 



" What is it !" repeats the pusher, with a 

 glorious assumption of scorn, as he brings the 

 stern of the skiff to the spot, and carefully lifts 

 up the object by the tail; "you isn't much 

 lamed in Natarel Histery, is you, sir?" 



