WARWICK WOODIANDS. 143 



worth two niggers any day, though he's black-fleshed, I 

 guess, if one was jest to skin the etarnal creatur." 



Very few minutes passed before they were all drawn up 

 round the fire, Captain Keade and two or three more mak- 

 ing room for them, as they pulled up their chairs about 

 the glowing hearth — having hung up their coats and capes 

 against the wall. 



"You'll be here best, boys," said Tom, "for a piece — the 

 parlor fire's not been lit yet this fall, and it is quite cold 

 nights now — but Brower'll kindle it up agin supper, for 

 you'll be wantin' to eat, all of you, I reckon, you're sich 

 darned everlastin' gormandizers." 



"That most undoubtedly we shall," said Frank, "for it's 

 past eight now, and the deuce a mouthful have we put 

 into our heads since twelve." 



"Barrin' the liquor, Frank! barrin' the liquor — now 

 don't lie! don't lie, boy, so ridic'lous — as if I'd known you 

 these six years, and then was a goin' to believe as you'd 

 not drinked since noon!" 



"Why, you old hogshead, you ! who wants you to believe 

 anything of the kind — we had one drink at Tom's your 

 cousin's, when we started, but deuce the drop since." 



"That's just the reason why you're so snarlish, then, I 

 reckon I Your coppers is got bilin', leastwise if they beant 

 all biled out — you'd best drink stret away, I guess, afore 

 the bottom of the biler gits left bare — for if it does, and 

 it's red hot now, boy, you'll be a blowin' up, like an old 

 steamboat, when you pumps in fresh water." 



"Well, Tom," said Archer, "I do not think it would be 

 a bad move to take a drop of something, and a cracker; 

 for I suppose we shall not <ret supper much short of two 

 hour? ; and I'm so deuced hungry, that if I don't get 

 something just to take off the edge, I shall not be able to 

 eat when it does come!" 



"I'll make a pitcher of egg nog; A drinks egg nog, 



I guess, although he's the poorest drinkin' man I ever did 

 see. Now, Brewer, look alive — the fire's lit, is it? Well, 

 then, jump now and feed them poor starvin' bags-a-bones, 

 as Archer calls dogs, and tell your mother to git supper. 

 Have you brought anything along to eat or drink, boys — I 

 guess we haven't notnin' in the house!" 



"Oh I you be hanged," said Harry, "I've brought a 



