78 Simpson's snipe 



" Certainly not," said my guest. " I always shoot 

 alone." 



" Ocli, folly yer own wish, sir ; only mind yer 

 futtin'." 



Mr Simpson disappeared into the hollow in which 

 the bog was situated, and, as before, bang ! bang ! 

 we heard the report of both barrels. 



" Be jabers, I'm bet intirely. Thim snipes must 

 have been dhruv from the say, an' have come here 

 unknownst to any wan. Ay, l;)awl away ! Whisht ! 

 be the hokey, he's into the bog ! " 



A dismal wailing, accompanied by cries for help, 

 arose from out the bog, where w^e found poor Simp- 

 son almost up to his chin, and endeavouring to 

 support himself by his elbows. 



" Ugh ! ugh ! lift me out, for heaven's sake ! My 

 new clothes — this coat that I never put on before " 

 (his whaling garment) — " why did I come to this 

 infernal hole. Ugh ! ugh ! " 



We dragged him up, leaving his patent boots and 

 stockings behind him. Billy bore him on his back 

 to tlie house, where he was stripped and arrayed in 

 evening costume. 



From the pockets of his ulster, whicli it was 

 found necessary to turn out for drying purposes, 

 Mr William Doyle extracted no less than six brace 

 of snipe. Unfortunately for Mr Simpson the bill 



