them and poured the round creatures
among the hot stones till they sissed again. Then they piled on a heap
of sea-weed, and a cloud of steam came pouring through. Then another
layer, and over that the potatoes and corn were poured down and laid on.
Then another layer of weeds, and the chickens and three great large
fish, done up in cloths, were laid out for a steaming, and with them
those live, green lobsters. Oh, mercy! how they did spread their claws
and crawl through the sea-weed! It was enough to make you creep all
over; but the men soon smothered them with steaming grass, which heaved
up and down for a while, and then sank off, till the lobsters lay as
dead as the chickens, and made no more fuss about being roasted alive.

By this time the whole heap--grass, chickens, corn, lobsters, and other
shell creatures--was big as a small haystack. At last the two colored
persons came down with a long tin pail, in which was a roll of butter
and some vinegar. They sunk the pail down into the steaming sea-grass,
clapped the corn on, and buried it with all the rest. Then more sea-weed
and an old boat-sail flung over all, and that little mountain of
roasting things was left to steam and sizzle while the whole party went
to take a walk along the shore.

Mr. Burke kept by my side, and part of the time he carried my parasol,
shading my face with it in the tenderest way.

He said something about the clam-bake, but I had really got so sick of
everything in the fish, fowl, or vegetable line, that a curiosity, more
or less, was of no consequence, so I said I should know how I liked
clam-bakes better when I had seen one.

He answered that would be soon, for half an hour was enough to put one
through.

Sisters, I was in no sort of hurry about it, for the rest of them were
busy chatting and talking, so that we were just as good as alone, and
the moments were precious as gold sands in an hour-glass.

By and by some one set up a shout. Mr. Burke wheeled right round, and
says he:

"They are going to open the clam-bake; come and see it done?"

CHAPTER XCVI.

THAT CLAM BAKE.

He walked fast. I followed him with reluctant footsteps. What did I care
for clam-bakes or any other new-fangled vegetable while he was by my
side?

The crowd were all around that heap of sea-weed when we came up. Men,
women, Irish help, and nig--well, colored freemen, with eager eyes and
open mouths, were waiting for the sail-cloth to be taken off.