96 PODGERS' POINTER 



reply in the negative. I muttered that we had 

 indeed fetched him, but that owing to his having 

 met with some accidents en voyage, his personal 

 appearance was considerably diminished ; but that 

 we were not to judge books by their covers. 



As if to worry, vex, and mortify us, Albatross 

 declined to stir from the bottom of the trap, from 

 whence he was subsequently rooted out in a most 

 undignified and anti-sporting way. 



The expression upon Mr O'Eooney's face, when 

 at length the animal, badger-like, was drawn, was 

 that of an intense astonishment, combined with a 

 mirth convulsively compressed. The servants com- 

 menced to titter, and the smart little gentleman 

 who tooled us over actually laughed outright. 



Albatross was partly covered with mud and offal. 

 His eyes were watery, and the lids were of a dull 

 pink, imparting a sort of maudlin idiotcy to their 

 expression. His right ear stood up defiantly, whilst 

 his left lay flat upon his jowl, and his tail seemed 

 to have disappeared altogether, so tightly had he, 

 under the combined influence of fear and dejection, 

 secured it between his legs. 



" He's not very handsome," observed our host 

 laughingly, " but I dare say he will take the shine 

 out of York and Lancaster, by-and-by," pointing to 

 the two setters as he spoke. 



