ble.

In that sweet spot we loitered a full hour--then counted our bag, which
amounted already to fifty-nine cock, not including those with which
Tim's gastronomic art had spread for us a table in the wilderness--then
leaving him to pack up and meet us at the spot where we first started,
we struck down the stream homeward, shooting our way along a strip of
coppice about ten yards in breadth, bounded on one side by a dry bare
bank of the river, and on the other by the open meadows. We of course
kept the verges of this covert, our dogs working down the middle, and so
well did we manage it, that when we reached the wagon, just as the sun
was setting, we numbered a hundred and twenty-five birds bagged, besides
two which were so cut by the shot as to be useless, six which we had
devoured, and four or five which we lost in spite of the excellence of
our retrievers. When we got home again, although the Dutchman was on the
spot, promising us a quarter race upon the morrow, and pressing
earnestly for a rubber to-night, we were too much used up to think of
anything but a good supper and an early bed.

DAY THE FIFTH

Our last day's shooting in the vale of Sugar-loaf was over; and,
something contrary to Harry's first intention, we had decided, instead
of striking westward into Sullivan or Ulster, to drive five miles upon
our homeward route, and beat the Longpond mountain--not now for such
small game as woodcock, quail, or partridge; but for a herd of deer,
which, although now but rarely found along the western hills, was said
to have been seen already several times, to the number of six or seven
head, in a small cove, or hollow basin, close to the summit of the
Bellevale ridge.

As it was not of course our plan to return again to Tom Draw's,
everything was now carefully and neatly packed away; the game, of which
we had indeed a goodly stock, was produced from Tom's ice-house, where,
suspended from the rafters, it had been kept as sound and fresh as
though it had been all killed only on the preceding day.

A long deep box, fitting beneath the gun-case under the front seat, was
now produced, and proved to be another of Harry's notable inventions;
for it was lined throughout, lid, bottom, sides and all, with zinc, and
in the centre had a well or small compartment of the same material, with
a raised grating in the bottom. This well was forthwith lined with a
square yard, or rather more, of flannel, into which was heaped a
quant