WARWICK WOODLAJ^DS. 151 



hear about this buck. If we agree to give you a five dollar 

 biU, Jem, in case we do find him where you say, what will 

 you be willing to forfeit if we do not?" 



'TTou may shoot at mel" answered Jem, "all on you — 

 ivery one on you — at forty yards, with rifle or buckshot 1" 



"It certainly is very likely that we should be willing to 

 get hanged for the sake of shooting such a mangy hound 

 as you, Jem," answered Forester, "when one could shoot a 

 good clean dog — Tom's Dash, for example — for nothing!" 



"Could you though ?" Tom replied, "I'd like to catch you 

 at it, my dear boy — I'd wax the little hide off of you. But 

 come, let us be settling. Is it a lie now, Jem; speak out — 

 is it a lie, consam you? for if it be, you'd best jest say 't 

 out now, and save your bones to-morrow. Well, boys, the 

 critter's sulky, so most like it is true — and I guess we'll be 

 arter him. We'll be up bright and airly, and go a horse- 

 back, and if he be there, we can kill him in no time at aU, 

 and be right back to breakfast. I'll start Jem and the 

 captain here, and Dave Seers, with the dogs, an hour afore 

 usl and let them come right down the swale, and drive 

 him to the open — Harry and Forester, you two can ride 



your own nags, and I'll take old Roan, and A here 



shall have the colt." 



"Very well! Timothy, did they feed well to-night? if 

 they did, give them their oats very early, and no water. 

 I know it's too bad after their work to-day, but we shall 

 not be out two hours!" 



"Weel! it's no matter gin they were oot six," rospended 

 Timothy, "they wadna be a pin the waur o't!" 



"Take out my rifle, then — and pick some buckshot cart- 

 ridges to fit the bore of all the double guns. Frank's got 

 his rifle; so you can take my heavy single gun — your 



gauge is 17, A , quite too small for buckshot ; mine is 



11, and will do its work clean with Ely's cartridge and 

 pretty heavy powder, at eighty-five to ninety yards. Tom's 

 bore is twelve, and I've brought some to fit his old double, 

 and some, too, for my own gun, though it is almost too 

 small!" 



"What gauge is yours, Harry?" 



"Fourteen; which I consider the very best bore possible 

 for general shooting. I think the gunsmiths are running, 

 headlong now into the opposite of their old error — when 



