thharkandwhoopandwildhalloo!”

    Laterinthemreparationsforabarbecue.Afirewaskihebottomofadeepholeintheground,bigstickswerelaidcrosswiseatthetop,awashungfromthemandturnedonspits.

    Aroundthefiresquattednegroes,drivingawaytheflieswithlongbrahesavouryodourofthemeatmademehungrylongbeforethetableswereset.

    Wheleaementofpreparationwasatitsheight,thehuntingpartymadeitsappeararugglinginbytwosandthrees,themenhotandweary,thehorsescoveredwithfoam,andthejadedhoundspantingaed--andnotasinglekill!Everymandeclaredthathehadseeonedeer,andthattheanimalhadeveryclose;buthoweverhotlythedogsmightpursuethegame,howeverwellthegunsmightbeaimed,atthesnapofthetriggertherewasnotadeerinsight.Theyhadbeenasfortuhelittleboywhosaidhecameverynearseeingarabbit--hesawhistracks.Thepartysootitsdisappoi,however,adown,nottovenison,buttoatamerfeastofvealandroastpig.

    OnesummerIhadmyponyatFernQuarry.IcalledhimBlackBeauty,asIhadjustreadthebook,andheresembledhisnamesakeineveryway,fromhisglossyblackcoattothewhitestaronhisforehead.Ispentmanyofmyhappiesthoursonhisback.Occasionally,whenitwasquitesafe,myteacherwouldletgotheleading-rein,andtheponysaunteredonorstoppedathissweetwilltoeatgrassornibbletheleavesofthetreesthatgrewbesidethenarrowtrail.

    swhenIdidnotcarefortheride,myteacherandIwouldstartafterbreakfastforarambleinthewoods,andallowourselvestogetlostamidthetreesandvines,withnoroadtofollowexceptthepathsmadebycowsandhorses.Frequentlyonimpassablethicketswhichforcedustotakearoundaboutway.

    We