This observation appeared to possess an immense store of fun to John Hardy; for he laughed so long and inwardly, that the tears chased each other in streams down his face. "Come," said the Squire, "let us proceed;" and, after the remainder in both the flasks had been drained to the last drop by Mike, the party resumed their sport. For some five hundred yards they continued up the banks of the brook without flushing more of the teal; but upon turning one of the many precipitate bends in the stream, three couple rose on the wing at the same time. Two fell over the right and left barrels of the Squire's gun, and one dropped to our hero's account. "With a little lemon juice and cayenne pepper," remarked John Hardy, picking up one of the birds as it fell, fluttering in death, on the edge of the water, "what a charming dish you will make, to be sure !" 66 Come, I think that will do pretty well,' said the Squire," for one morning's work. Six couples of snipe, two couples and a half of teal, a bittern, and a bilcock." "Amazing fine sport," returned John; " and if I cannot claim killing the greater number, I can the largest of the number." "So you can, John," added the Squire; "and now we will bend our footsteps homewards." CHAPTER XII. "O, world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart, Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal, and exercise, On a dissension of a doit break out "WALK in Peter, walk in," said Mike Crouch, as he threw back the faggot forming the entrance to the kennel, and seeing the form of the razor-grinder standing before it, with Toby squatting at his feet. Peter Parkins gave a dry cough, and replied ambiguously that, "he didn't know that he should.” Toby gave an emphatic sneeze, as much as to say the matter must be further considered. "Oh!" rejoined the earth-stopper, with a grin," you haven't decided, eh?" "It's some time," returned Peter, "since we've met." "Yes," added Mike; "but we shall soon part again if you're going to keep me long in the cold." "It's a day or two more than ten weeks,” said Peter, without noticing the cool and careless remark of the earth-stopper. "Indeed!" replied Mike. "I haven't kept a tally of the time." "My bones have,” briefly rejoined Peter. Toby made a feeble whine, by way of conveying his sympathy with his master's afflictions. "Bones?" repeated the earth-stopper, pretending unconsciousness to the allusion. "How so?" They left off aching yesterday," responded Peter Parkins. "And when did they begin?" considerately asked Mike. "At the moment my back met the ground from the friendly fall you gave me at the revel," answered Peter, satirically. 66 "I reIt “Ha, ha, ha,” laughed Mike. member what you're pointing to now. certainly seemed a little too rough play on my part," continued he. "Seemed!" repeated the razor-grinder. "There was no false appearance about, it I'll be sworn." "So you think, and, perhaps, not without some cause," rejoined Mike; "but I can explain that trifle. Walk in." "A trifle to one man may be a serious matter to another," philosophically remarked Peter Parkins, still exhibiting symptoms of unwillingness to accept the invitation to enter the earth-stopper's rude dwelling. "To "I don't deny that," returned Mike. end all palaver, however," continued he, “are |