WANDERERS. 257 



seein' as 'twas most onusual - like, an' missed 

 him." 



" 'Twas a trick o' that 'ere furrin heathen o' 

 a coyman, Craft," said the landlord, "you may 

 depend on it. He'd catched one o' them 'ere 

 cat-scratchin' coots, and tied his missus's apern- 

 strings roun' its neck." 



" Ay," added one of his chums, " them 'ere 

 heathens frum the shires is most fit to do any 

 outlandish work. Josher here reckins as he'll 

 pull a stroke-oar in coyman's boat afore long." 



" 'Twas only last week he went down to the 

 long splash for to git a couple o' ducks; 'tis a 

 good place for 'em, you know. Well, there waun't 

 a sign o' one above or below. He couldn't mek 

 it out nohow, for he'd niver missed seeing on 'em, 

 if he didn't git 'em. It reg'lar dumbfounded 

 Josher ; and presently out from the reeds cums 

 a couple o' ducks with white feathers in their 

 beaks, cuttin' most owdacious capers on the 

 water, tossin' their heads up, quackin' an' spinnin' 

 about in most onairthly fashion. Josher watched 

 'em fur a time, then he shot 'em. That ''ere coy- 

 man, to keep t'others from cumin' to shoot there, 



