A SPORTING TRIP TO FRANCE. 227 



as I stepped into his cabin : "just in time ; 

 such a spree." 



What the particular spree was I could not at 

 that instant divine, as I stood looking in blank 

 astonishment at some three or four individuals 

 in a most extraordinary state. They were 

 dripping to the shoulders, and all their faces 

 were blackened. 



" Such a spree," continued my brother, aside. 

 <f I've been giving these fellows a dinner. Two 

 Frenchmen and three English. They are three 

 sheets in the wind, as you may see. Ill intro- 

 duce you to them ; but don't split on me, and 

 you'll see such a lark." 



I was then introduced to the gentlemen, 

 then in a very happy state. The table was 

 out of the cabin ; on the floor was a large 

 bucket of water, and in it a gold Louis. This 

 "was to be dived for by putting your head down 

 into the bucket and trying to take the coin up 

 in your teeth, which if you succeeded in doing 

 was yours. Such was the spree alluded to ; on 

 one side of the bucket stood the captain, arid 

 on the other the steward, each with a towel in 

 his hand, one part smeared with soot or black 



15 -2 



