WARWICK WOODLANDS. 89 



"Now, FranTc," said he, "see here! I'll set this bucket 

 here behind the door — we'll heave the other slap into his 

 face — there he lies, full on the broad of his fat back, with 

 his mouth wide open — and when he jumps up full of 

 fight, which he is sure to do, run you with the candle, 

 which blow out the moment he appears, straight down 

 the passage. I'll stand back here, and as he trips over 

 that broomstick, which he is certain to do, I'll pitch the 

 other bucket on his back — and if he does not think he's 

 bewitched, I'll promise not to laugh. I owe him two or 

 three practical jokes, and now I've got a chance, so I'll 

 pay him all at once." 



Well ! we peeped in, aided by the glare of the streaming 

 tallow candle, and there, sure enough, with all the clothes 

 kicked off him, and his immense rotundity protected only 

 from the cold by an exceeding scanty shirt of most an- 

 cient cotton, lay Tom, flat on his back, like a stranded 

 porpoise, with his mouth wide open, through which he 

 was puffing and breathing like a broken-winded cab-horse, 

 while through his expanded nostrils he was snoring loud- 

 ly enough to have awaked the seven sleepers. Neither of 

 us could well stand up for laughing. One bucket was 

 deposited behind the door, and back stood Harry ready 

 to slip behind it also at half a moment's warning — the 

 candlestick was placed upon the floor, which I was to kick 

 over in my flight. 



"Stand by to heave!" whispered my trusty comrade — 

 "heave!" and with the word — flash! — slush! — out went 

 the whole contents of the full pail, two gallons at the 

 least of ice-cold water, slap in the chaps, neck, breast, and 

 stomach of the sound sleeper. With the most wondrous 

 noise that ears of mine have ever witnessed — a mixture 

 of sob, snort, and groan, concluding in the longest and 

 most portentous howl that mouth of man ever uttered 

 — Tom started out of bed; at the very instant I dis- 

 charged my bucket, I put my foot upon the light, flung 

 down the empty pail, and bolted. Poor devil! — as he got 

 upon his feet the bucket rolled up with its iron handles 

 full against his shins, the oath he swore at which en- 

 counter, while he dashed headlong after me, directed by 

 the noise I made on purpose, is most unmentionable. 

 Well knowing where it was, I easily jumped over the stick 

 which barred the passage. Not so Tom — for going at the 



