AMONG THE HILLS. 57 



sible. He always provided a separate one for Toby, 

 " 'Tain't no use offerin' a pot o' ale to anybody else 

 arter I've had two pulls at it," he would say. At 

 a certain point in the convivial proceedings the 

 clarionet would be taken to pieces very deliberately 

 and gravely, put into its case, and handed to the 

 landlady, with a request that she would take very 

 great care of it. Then, to the best of their ability, 

 they would discuss and demonstrate the theory of 

 the best methods of relieving thirst. 



Cross-bows are supposed to be weapons of the 

 past ; yet I have seen them used by those who had 

 made them, and very quiet and deadly weapons they 

 were. Toby made the stock, and Chubby fitted it 

 with steel, bow, and barrel. He also designed and 

 made the bolts ; and this is an example of the way 

 in which they proceeded. Chubby told Toby one 

 day, in the most matter-of-fact way possible, that 

 " some one as he knowed wanted one o' they black- 

 cocks." 



" Is it fur he ? " asked Toby, pointing to myself. 



" No, it ain't ; but I thinks as he'd like to go with 

 ye, Toby, if so be as ye've no objection." 



I had seen black game many a time, but never a 



