52 WARWICK WOODLANDS. 



handed me a huge plate of leafy reeking pie-crust, with 

 a slice of fat steak, and a plump hen quail, and gravy, 

 an etceteras, that might have made an alderman's mouth 

 water; "and if you don't say it's the very best thing you 

 ever tasted, you are not half so good a judge as I used 

 to hold you. It took little Johnny and myself three wet 

 days to concoct it. Pie, Tom, or roast pig ?" he continued ; 

 "or broiled woodcock? Here they are, all of them?" 



"Why, I reckon I'll take cock; briled meat wants to be 

 ate right stret away as soon as it comes off the griddle; 

 and of all darned nice ways of cooking, to brile a thing, 

 quick now, over hot hickory ashes, is the best for me!" 



"I believe you're right about eating the cock first, for 

 they will not be worth a farthing if they get cold. So 

 you stick to the pig, do you — hey McTaggart i Well, 

 there is no reckoning on taste — holloa, Tim, look shai^p! 

 the champagne all 'round — I'm choaking!" 



And for some time no sound was heard, but the contin- 

 uous clatter of knives and forks, the occasional popping 

 of a cork, succeeded by the gurgling of the generous wine 

 as it flowed into the tall rummers; and every now and 

 then a loud and rattling eructation from Tom Draw, who, 

 as he said, could never half enjoy a meal if he could not 

 stop now and then to blow off steam. 



At last, however — for supper, alas! like all other earthly 

 pleasures, must come to an end — "The fairest still the 

 fleetest" — our appetites waned gradually; and notwith- 

 standing Harry's earnest exhortations, and the production 

 of a broiled ham-bone, devilled to the very utmost pitch 

 of English mustard, soy, oil of Aix, and cayenne pepper, 

 by no hands, as may be guessed, but those of that uni- 

 versal genius, Timothy; one by one, we gave over our 

 labors edacious, to betake us to potations of no small 

 depth or frequency. 



"It is directly contrary to my rule, Frank, to drink 

 before a good day's shooting — and a good day I mean to 

 have to-morrow! — but I am thirsty, and the least thought 

 chilly ; so here goes for a debauch ! Tim, look in my box 

 with the clothes, and you will find two flasks of curacao ; 

 bring them dovni, and a dozen lemons, and some lump 

 sugar — look alive! and you, Tom, out with your best 

 brandy; I'll make a jorum that will open your eyes 

 (In)if before you've done with it. That's right. Tim; now 



