236 DIFFICULT CARVING. 



for the spit, the appearance of my bonne bouche was 

 far from tempting, notwithstanding the ingenuity I 

 displayed in trussing it. The fact is, it appeared to 

 me to have more resemblance to the body of a baby 

 tl^an to that of any fowl I had ever seen. 



A London poulterer, I had no doubt, with that 

 happy ingenuity which they possess, would, by 

 breaking the breast-bone, and performing sundry 

 other operations, have rendered my prize not only 

 plump in appearance, but enticing to the eye. Al- 

 though frizzled meat of almost every description 

 smells about the same, I had no sooner commenced 

 roasting this owl than I remarked that it did not 

 smell like anything with which I was acquainted, 

 except, possibly, a cage in which white mice or 

 guinea-pigs had been kept. 



At length it was done to a turn ; and the better 

 to enjoy my anticipated feast I selected the softest 

 part of a log for my seat. Drawing my hunting 

 knife, I then tried to amputate a limb ; but I could 

 not dissolve the partnership. At mess I always 

 enjoyed the credit of being a respectable carver, and 

 was therefore surprised at my lack of skill on the 

 present occasion ; but, remembering how fresh was 

 the game, how blunt my knife, and how awkward 

 my position, I renewed my efforts, and at length a 

 leg was sawn off, in a mangled state. By the drum- 

 stick end I picked it up, and inserted it between 

 my teeth ; but when they closed on the anticipated 

 delicacy, they found they lacked the strength to 



