244 RAMBLES AFTER SPORT. 



right,, haviDg concluded it was best to stick by tlieir 

 pickets and the camp. Jake cooked the coon ; I could 

 eat it, but that reminds me of another yarn^ and it's a 

 good one. 



A miner going up to the northern mines stopped at a 

 shanty to have some grub. " I guess I want a square 

 mealj boss.'' "Waal^ I guess you've come to just the 

 right lo-cality for that/' said Bonifacio. ^' How much ?" 

 " Allers the same, two dollars a square meal." " Bring 

 me chicken/' says the miner. 



Now there wasn't a chicken within twenty miles, but 

 a very considerable number of carrion crows. " He'll 

 never know the difference/' think's the boss, as he bowls 

 one over with his rifle. He plucks and cooks the crow, 

 and serves it up. ^J^he stranger gobbled it all up like 

 an alligator, to the astonishment of the boss, who was 

 reflecting on the easy and advantageous addition to his 

 income so suddenly discovered. As the miner was 

 going away, he said, "Waal, stranger, how did you 

 like that tender young chicken I gave you? kinder 

 niceish picking for a young feller, ain't it?" "'Tis, 

 indeed," replied the miner, grasping the boss's hand 

 with fervour ; " 'tis indeed ; I can eat carrion crow, mind 

 yer, but I'll be darned if I hanker after it ! " 



