196 TOM draw's visit to pine brook. 



now that I'd a cussed sight rayther have a drink o' brandy, 

 or the least mite of applejack, than a whole keg of 

 this red rot-gut !" 



"You've hit the nail on the head, Tom," answered I, 

 while Harry, knowing the old man's propensities, marched 

 off in search of the liquor-stand — "It was brandy that the 

 Serjeant meant!" 



"Then why the thunder didn't he say brandy, like a man 

 — instead of coming out with his snivelling o di veef" 



"Why, Tom," said I, in explanation, "he admired your 

 favorite drink so much, that he used the French name as 

 most complimentary; it means water of life!" 



"What, he watered it too, did he ? I thought he must be 

 a darned poor drinkin' man, to call things out of their 

 right names — precious little of the raal stuff he ever 

 drinked, I reckon, watered or not — o di vee ! Cuss all 

 such Latin trash, says I. But here 't comes. Take a drop, 

 doo, McTavish, it's better fifty times, and healthier tew, 

 than that eternal darned sour old vinegar, take a drop, 

 doo!" 



"Thank you, no," answered McTavish, well contented 

 with his present beverage, and after a pause went on ad- 

 dressing Archer — "I wish to heaven you'd let me know 

 what you were up to — I'd have gone along." 



"What hinders you from going now?" said Harry. "I 

 can rig you out for the drive, and we can stop at the 

 Carlton, and get your gun, and the rest of your traps. I 

 wish to the Lord you would !" 



"Oh! oh!" Tom burst out, on the instant, "oh! oh! I 

 won't go, sartain, less so be McTavish concludes on going 

 tew — we cam't do nothing without him." 



It was in vain, however, that we all united in entreating 

 him to go along — he had business to do to-morrow — he 

 was afraid of getting his feet wet, and fifty other equally 

 valid excuses, till Harry exclaimed — "It's no use, I can teU 

 you Donald's bluid's up, and there's an end of it — " 



Whereat McTavish laughed, and saying that he did not 

 think, for a very short-sighted man, snipe-shooting up to 

 his waist in water, and up to his knees in mud, was the 

 great thing it is cracked up to be, filled himself a pretty 

 sufficient dose of hot toddy, and drank to our good luck. 

 Just at this moment, up rattled, ready packed, with the 



