WARWICK WOODLANDS. 147 



"Cuss you, and your news too," responded Tom, "you're 

 sich a thunderin' liar, there's no knowin' when you do 

 speak truth. We'll not be losin' our supper for no lies, 

 I guess! Leastways I won't! Come Archer." 



And with a right good appetite they walked into the 

 parlor; every thing was in order; every article placed just 

 as it had been when Frank went up to spend his first 

 week in the Woodlands; the gun-case stood on the same 

 chairs below the window; the table by the door was laid 

 out with the same display of powder-flasks, shot-pouches, 

 and accoutrements of all sizes. The liquor-stand was 

 placed by Harry's chair, open, containing the case-bottles, 

 the rummers being duly ranged upon the board, which 

 was well lighted by four tall wax candles, and being laid 

 with Harry's silver, made quite a smart display. The 

 rabbits smoked at the head, smothered in a rich sauce of 

 cream, and nicely shredded onions; the pork choi>s, thin 

 and crisply broiled, exhaled rich odors at the bottom; the 

 English snipe, roasted to half a turn, and reposing on 

 their neat squares of toast, were balanced by a dish of 

 well-fried sausages, reclining on a bed of mashed potatoes ; 

 champagne was on the table, unresined and unwdred, 

 awaiting only one touch of the knife to release the strug- 

 gling spirit from its transparent prison. Few words were 

 spoken for some time, unless it were a challenge to cham- 

 pagne, the corks of which popped frequently and furious; 

 or a request for another snipe, or another spoonful of the 

 sauce; while all devoted themselves to the work in hand 

 with a sincere and business-like earnestness of demeanor, 

 that proved either the excellence of Tom Draw's cookery, 

 or the efficacy of the Spartan sauce which the sportsmen 

 had brought to assist them at their meal. The last rich 

 drops of the fourth flask were trickling into Tom's wide- 

 lipped rummer, when Harry said, 



"Come, we have done, I think, for one night ; let's have 

 the eatables removed, and we will have a pipe, and hear 

 what Jem has got to say; and you have told us nothing 

 about birds, either, you old elephant ; what do you mean 

 by it? That's right, Tim, now bring in my cigars, and 

 Mr. Forester's cheroots, and cold iced water, and boiling- 

 hot water, and sugar, out of my box, and lemons. The 

 shrub is here, and the Scotch whiskey ; will you have an- 



