248 THE FIRE HUNTEK. 



wind ! D'rat me if it blows at all ! That's bad ; 

 for if lie noses me, he'll snort and be off in a 



" Eh ! eh !" said Pompey, " how he guine to nose 

 you, w r hen you mout and you jacket smell so strong 

 of'bacca?" 



" Damme ! if you ain't spelling for a chew !" 

 said Slouch, handing him over -a quid. " Now, 

 strike fire, and let's be off." 



It was soon done ; the blazing chips of lightwood 

 were placed in the frying-pan, and the handle passed 

 over the shoulder of the negro, who swayed it back- 

 ward and forward, horizontally, with a knowing 

 look, illuminating all objects far and near, except 

 the space kept in shadow by the intervention of the 

 head. It is in this shaded space, that the eyes of 

 the deer become visible to the fire-hunter, appear- 

 ing like globes of greenish flame. 



" Got, Mass Slouch, dat 'ill do!" said Pompey 

 his love of sport overcoming his hitherto reluctant 

 acquiescence. " S'pose you gee me de gun I'll 

 slam um ober, I tell you !" 



" "When did you larn, pray ?" said Slouch, eyeing 

 him keenly and not over kindly. " How do you know 

 the distance ? you'd fire before you had got close 

 enough, or scare him by getting too near !" 



Pompey looked as if he knew more on the sub- 



