Taking excellent care that by all I am seen;
Some remarks on time's flight to the squires I address,
But I say not a word of the flight of Black Bess.

I mention the hour--it was just about four--
Play a rubber at bowls--think the danger is o'er;
When athwart my next game, like a checkmate at chess,
Comes the horsemen in search of the rider of Bess.

What matter details? Off with triumph I came;
He swears to the hour, and the squires swear the same;
I had robbed him at _four_!--while at four _they_ profess
I was quietly bowling--all thanks to Black Bess!

Then one halloo, boys, one loud cheering halloo!
To the swiftest of coursers, the gallant, the true!
For the sportsman unborn shall the memory bless
Of the horse of the highwayman, bonny Black Bess!

Loud acclamations rewarded Dick's performance. Awakened from his doze,
Zoroaster beat time to the melody, the only thing, Jerry said, he was
capable of _beating_ in his present shattered condition. After some
little persuasion, the Magus was prevailed upon to enliven the company
with a strain, which he trolled forth after a maudlin manner:

THE DOUBLE CROSS

Though all of us have heard of _crost_ fights,
And certain _gains_, by certain _lost_ fights,
I rather fancies that it's news,
How in a mill, _both_ men should _lose_;
For vere the _odds_ are thus made _even_,
It plays the dickens with the _steven_;[96]
Besides, against all rule they're sinning,
Vere _neither_ has _no_ chance of vinning.
_Ri, tol, lol, &c._

Two _milling coves_, each vide avake,
Vere backed to fight for heavy stake:
But in the mean time, so it vos,
Both _kids_ agreed to _play a cross_;
Bold came each _buffer_[97] to the _scratch_,
To make it look a _tightish match_;
They _peeled_[98] in style, and bets vere making,
'Tvos six to four, but few vere _taking_.
_Ri, tol, lol, &c._

Quite cautiously the mill began,
For neither knew the other's plan;
Each _cull_[99] completely in the _dark_,
Of vot might be his neighbor's _mark_;
Resolved his _fibbing_[100] not to mind,
Nor yet to _pay him back in kind_;
So on each other _kept they tout_,[101]
And _sparred_ a bit, and _dodged_ about,
_Ri, tol, lol, &c._

Vith _