e doesn't do it,' said an old hard-featured
squire.

"'The same from me,' cried another.

"'Two to one in fifties,' shouted a third, until every man at table had
proffered his wager, and I gravely called for pen, ink, and paper, and
booked them, with all due form.

"'Now, when is it to come off?' was the question of some half dozen.

"'Now, if you like it--the night seems fine.'

"'No, no,' said they, laughing, 'there's no such hurry as that;
to-morrow we are going to draw Westenra's cover--what do you say if you
meet us there, by eight o'clock--and we'll decide the bet.'

"'Agreed,' said I; and shaking hands with the whole party, I folded up
my paper, placed it in my pocket, and wished them good night.

"Sleep was, however, the last thing in my thoughts; repairing to the
little public-house where I left my friend Dan, I asked him if he knew
any one well acquainted with the country, and who could tell, at a
moment, where a hare, or a covey was to be found. "'To be sure,' said
he at once; 'there's a boy below knows every puss and every bird in the
country. Tim Daly would bring you, dark as the night is, to the very
spot where you'd find one.'

"In a few minutes I had made Mr. Tim's acquaintance, and arranged with
him to meet me at the cover on the following morning, a code of signals
being established between us, by which, he was to convey to me the
information of where a hare was lying, or a covey to be sprung.

"A little before eight I was standing beside 'Paul' on the appointed
spot, the centre of an admiring circle, who, whatever their misgivings
as to his boasted skill, had only one opinion about his shapes and
qualities.

"'Splendid forehand'--'what legs'--'look at his quarters'--'and so deep
in the heart'--were the exclamations heard on every side--till a
rosy-cheeked fat little fellow growing impatient at the delay, cried
out--

"'Come, Mr. O'Kelly, mount if you please, and come along.'

"I tightened my girth--sprang into the saddle--my only care being, to
keep my toes in as straight a line as I could, with my feet. Before we
proceeded half a mile, I saw Tim seated on a stile, scratching his head
in a very knowing manner; upon which, I rode out from the party, and
looking intently at the furze cover in front, called out--

"'Keep back the dogs there--call them off--hush, not a word.'

"The hounds were called in, the party reined back their horses, and all
sat silent spectators of my movements.