204 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



have got many more like that, you might edit a 

 new edition of Munchhausen with much interesting 

 and additional matter never heretofore made public, 

 as the advertisements would say. Where on earth 

 did you pick that story up ? " 



" Well, gentlemen," returned Norman, " you may 

 have a want of faith in the credibility of the story, 

 and I must confess, that I have myself to use an 

 expression of Mac's countrymen "a vera shrewd 

 suspeecion" it is, speaking mildly, slightly em- 

 bellished ; but I assure you, as far as the main facts 

 are concerned, I tell the tale as it was told to me 

 some years ago." 



"Then all I can say is," retorted Mackenzie, 

 " that your informant must have had very free and 

 liberal ideas on the subject of facts. But let me 

 see," he continued, reflectively, " I think I remem- 

 ber one, certainly not equal in dramatic effect to 

 yours, but still curious enough to excite astonish- 

 ment among the weak-minded." 



" That's right, Mac," said Hawkes. " Let us see 

 if we are weak-minded by your power of astonishing 

 us." 



" Well, since you are so pressing, here goes. It 

 was told at a dinner-party a good long time ago. I 

 remember a parson had started the subject of un- 

 common occurrences, by telling an anecdote, of 



