WARWICK WOODLANDS. 125 



bor, as they call it for the sake of a bird. Whether time, 

 and a greater diffusion of sporting propensities, and 

 sporting feelings, may alter this for the better or no, I 

 leave to sager and more politic pates than mine. And 

 now I say, Harry, you surely do not intend to trundle us 

 off to Tom Draw's to-night without a drink at starting? 

 I see Timothy has got the drag up to the door, and the 

 horses harnessed, and all ready for a start." 



"Yes ! yes ! all that's true," answered Harry, "but take 

 my word for it, the liquor case is not put in yet. Well, 

 Timothy," he went on, as they reached the door, "that is 

 right. Have you got everything put up?" 



"All but t' gam' bag and t' liquor ca-ase, sur," Tim re- 

 plied, touching his hat gnostically as he spoke; "Ay 

 reckoned please sur, 'at you'd maybe want to fill 't yan 

 oop, and empty t' oother!" 



"Very well thought, indeed!" said Archer, winking to 

 Forester the while. "Let that boy stand a few minutes to 

 the horses' heads, and come into the house yourself and 

 pack the birds up, and fetch us some water." 



"T' watter is upon t' table, sur, and t'cigars, and a 

 loight; but Ay'se be in wi' you directly. Coom hither, 

 lad, till Ay shew thee boo to guide 'em; thou munna tooch 

 t' bits for the loife o' thee, but joost stan' there anent 

 them — if they stir loike, joost speak to 'em — Ayse hear 

 thee !" and he left his charge and entered the small parlor, 

 where the three friends were now assembled, with a cheroot 

 apiece already lighted, and. three tall brimming rummers 

 on the table. 



"Look sharp and put the birds up," said Harry, pitch- 

 ing, as he spoke, the fine fat fellows right and left out of 

 his wide game pockets, "and when that's done fill yourself 

 out a drink, and help us on with our great coats." 



"What are you going to do with the guns?" inquired 

 the Commodore. 



"To carry them uncased and loaded ; substituting in my 

 own two buckshot cartridges for loose shot," replied 

 Archer. "The Irish are playing the very devil through 

 this part of the country — we are close to the line of the 

 great Erie railroad — and they are murdering, and robbing, 

 and I know not what, for miles around. The last time I 

 was at old Tom's he told me that but ten days or a fort- 



