SNIPE-SHOOTING. 109 



as he came in, addressing the Baltimorean, who was 

 booted to the hip, ready for action. 



" The bottom of the night, rather ;" replied Charley 

 laughing. " It's an awful state of society, when a fel- 

 low's dragged out of bed by an insane Yorkshireman, 

 two hours before day-break, and made to get into his 

 boots, whether or no." 



" It must have been something of a job to get into 

 yours, I should think ; but I'll tell you what, if we get 

 the birds into a bit of tussocky bog, where we shall find 

 them, if we find them anywhere to-day, you'll get out of 

 them, I fancy, a plaguy deal quicker than you got in ; 

 for they'll stick fast as sure as mud's mud and the mud 

 there, or clay, rather, is better than any boot-jack." 



" The Lord's will be done " answered the other ; 

 " at all events, I shall keep dry ten minutes longer than 

 you." 



"True, O king! Now, Timothy, take half that loaf of 

 rye bread, cut it into chunks, and give the dogs their 

 breakfast." 



" "Which dogs are you going to take to-day, Harry ?" 



" < Dinks' and i Bob' the orange and white, and the 

 black and white Kussian." 



" Dinks is the greatest beauty and Bob the greatest 

 brute I ever set my eyes upon." 



" If you don't change your tune before night, you may 

 eat me. Any one can see that Dinks is by far the hand- 



