sertion of the project; but we must find a birth among the
ruins!"

And as he spoke, turning a little off the road, he pulled up on the
green sward; "there's an old stable here that has a manger in it yet!
Now, Tim, look sharp!" And in a twinkling the horses were loosed from
the wagon, the harness taken off and hanging on the corners of the
ruined hovels, and Tim hissing and rubbing away at the gray horse, while
Harry did like duty on the chestnut, in a style that would have done no
shame to Melton Mowbray!

"Come, Frank, make yourself useful! Get out the round of beef, and all
the rest of the provant--it's on the rack behind; you'll find all right
there. Spread our table-cloth on that flat stone by the waterfall, under
the willow; clap a couple of bottles of the Baron's champagne into the
pool there underneath the fall; let's see whether your Indian
campaigning has taught you anything worth knowing!"

To work I went at once, and by the time I had got through--"Come, Tim,"
I heard him say, "I've got the rough dirt off this fellow, you must
polish him, while I take a wash, and get a bit of dinner. Holloa! Frank,
are you ready!"

And he came bounding down to the water's edge, with his Newmarket coat
in hand, and sleeves rolled up to the elbows, plunged his face into the
cool stream, and took a good wash of his soiled hands in the same
natural basin. Five minutes afterward we were employed most pleasantly
with the spiced beef, white biscuit, and good wine, which came out of
the waterfall as cool as Gunter could have made it with all his icing.
When we had pretty well got through, and were engaged with our cheroots,
up came Tim Matlock.

"T' horses have got through wi' t' corn--they have fed rarely so I
harnessed them, sur, all to the bridles--we can start when you will."

"Sit down, and get your dinner then, sir--there's a heel tap in that
bottle we have left for you--and when you have done, put up the things,
and we'll be off. I say, Frank, let us try a shot with the pistols--I'll
get the case--stick up that fellow-commoner upon the fence there, and
mark off a twenty paces."

The marking irons were produced, and loaded--"Fire--one--two--three"--
bang! and the shivering of the glass announced that never more would
that chap hold the generous liquor; the ball had struck it plump in the
centre, and broken off the whole above the shoulder, for it was fixed
neck downward on the stake.

"It is my turn now," said I; an