SUPPER 171 



for past enjoyments ; but if the nostril has ever inhaled the pure 

 steam, the condensed just liberated essence of a cold-water fish, 

 baked in the ashes, he will forget those artificial combinations 

 that have hitherto deceived him, and believe only in the simplest 

 cooking as the best. The fish was soon disposed of, and Mike 

 handed over his venison steak, hot and rare, just cooked enough to 

 make it tender. 



" Ah ! Mike, you rascal, it 's not the cooking that makes that 

 venison so tender, sir; you have had the selection of the whole 

 deer," said Jackson. 



"Would yer have me take the heels ?" asked Mike sarcastically. 



And thereupon there arose a great discussion between them as 

 to the best cut from a deer, as Jackson had some of the old 

 yeoman's ideas of venery, and Mike was in no wise a stranger to 

 this, one of the most considered arts of woodcraft. 



" Hi, dogs ! " called Lou, as the hounds crowded around her for 

 the scraps of venison that we had not eaten, and licked the hand 

 that fed them. " Down, Jip ! back, Boz ! back, Lady ! Bring the 

 turkey, Bose." 



" And the bar," said Mike, tossing his wooden platter into the 

 fire and taking another. 



" And the oysters," said the Doctor. 



" And some corn bread," said another. 



" Ho ! for a boar's head and a flagon of wine, and we would 

 make a royal carouse ! " cried Jackson. 



" Were we kings, we would not have hunter's appetites," said I. 



u And might have the gout," intimated the Doctor. 



The turkey was placed on the table, flanked by the piece of 

 bear's meat, and between them the oysters, and my brochets of 

 liver. The corn-bread, brown and smoking, was broken up and 

 piled on the board. And, finally, the tin pan, the only tin pan in 

 the company, was half filled with the savoury stew, and put under 

 the Doctor's nose, to his evident satisfaction, and his face broadened 

 in spite of himself, as the delicate fragrance of venison, eggs, bird, 

 and bear's fat, mingled with chestnuts and savoury herbs, ascended 

 to his nostrils. 



Hunting-knives were applied with vigour, and, after a short 



