nch with me. [_They sit._]
You must know that I'm a farmer, pretty well off, as a body mout say,
and I wanted a wife; hard by our village, there lived an old soger with
a pretty daughter, so I courted the old man for his daughter, and he
consented to the match.

JAILOR. Well?

JERRY. And so I got together all my neighbours, and, with music, went to
the old soger's to get my sweetheart, when, lo and behold! after all my
trouble, she refused me plump.

JAILOR. No, did she?

JERRY. Ay, indeed; she didn't seem stricken with the proposal--and for
fear her father would force her to marry me, egad, she run away.

JAILOR. And where did she go?

JERRY. I can't say, but her father and a whole _posse comitatus_, as we
justices call 'em, went in search of her to the camp, and when I came
here, I found some of my old comrades who fought with me at Queenstown;
and so having a little money, we went to take a comfortable pitcher of
whiskey punch together, and so, while over our cups, they doubted my
valour, and hinted that I run away before the battle.

JAILOR. Well, and what did you do?

JERRY. Why, I offered to fight 'em single-handed all round, and we got
into a dispute, and so when my money was all gone, they tweaked my nose,
boxed my ears, and kick'd me out of the tent. So I then kick'd up a row,
and--that's all.

JAILOR. A very pretty story, indeed! You look like a mutinous dog--so
come, get into the black hole.

JERRY. Now, my dear jailor, do let me escape, and I'll give you the
prettiest little pig in my farmyard.

JAILOR. What! bribe an honest and humane jailor, and with a pig? In with
you.

JERRY. Well, but I've nothing to eat--I shall be half starved.

JAILOR. Oh no, you shall have something to employ your grinders on.
[_Goes out, and returns with a black loaf, and a pitcher of water._]
There!

JERRY. O dear, nothing else but black bread and cold water? Can't you
get me a pickle?

JAILOR. I think you're in a devil of a pickle already--come, get in!
[_Removes a board from the scene, which discovers a small dark hole.
JERRY supplicates._]

JERRY. How long am I to be here, Mr. Jailor, in company with myself?

JAILOR. That depends on your good behaviour. [_Cannon are heard._]
There! the battle has commenced.

JERRY. [_Putting his head out of the hole._] O dear, what's that? The
great guns are going off. Are you sure, my dear jailor, that this prison
is bomb proof?

JAILOR. Take your head in, you great