254 THE FIRE HUNTER. 



We shall now leave the faithful Slouch, after 

 having acquitted himself thus honorably of his 

 trusts, to retire to his rest ; which, we may assure 

 the reader, was disturbed by no qualms of con- 

 science while we follow Pompey on his mission 

 to the stage-house. 



Everything went according to his wish the 

 mare was lashed into a brisk gallop ; Snug received 

 the venison ; and Pompey, rewarded by a dram 

 and a slice of cavendish, set out on his return. 

 "When he had now got near his home, he turned 

 off the mare within the fence of Softhead, as he 

 had been directed; and took a cut-off path 

 through the woods, to save himself the trouble 

 of a longer walk by the road. And now, when 

 he had well-nigh completed his journey, he was 

 brought to a pause by observing the remains of a 

 fire near the path, of which the embers were yet 

 burning. 



" What's dis ?" says Pompey ; " here's been some- 

 body fire hunting to-night, besides we. Ah ! ha ! 

 here 'tis ! dey tro out de lightwood down here ! 

 wonder what dey kill!" and he kindled the fire 

 with the splintered pine, which blazed like gun- 

 powder. "Here's de frying-pan, by jing!" said 

 Pompey, as the rising flame illuminated everything 

 around; "dey must hab kill someting, or dey 



