234 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



wing, and beats with the other at a most rapid rate ; 

 turns over, rights again, spreads its tail out, and 

 then comes down dead. In those days the gun was 

 always ready to hand for a chance shot. 



" What is it, Mark ? What do you want of me ? " 

 asks the farmer, as a labourer comes up to him, evi- 

 dently with some request. 



" Why, I've cum to ask ye if ye have a rabbit that 

 ye ken give me fur my young un ; he's bin down 

 now fur a long time, an' he's just gettin' about agin." 



" Have we got one, mother ? " 



" No, father. I wish we had for the poor child's 

 sake." 



" Can you shoot, Mark ? " 



" I could one time, master, an' I thinks as I could 

 now." 



" Well, look here, take my double she is loaded 

 and see if you can get a young one or a couple out 

 of that young clover-field. I must be going out, or 

 I'd try and get you one." 



Not long afterwards a couple of shots rang out, 

 and the man returned with a couple of rabbits, also 

 with the news that he had discovered a heap of 

 guinea-fowls' eggs where those shy birds had nested 



