the
stream. That's the ticket, Sam.' It's done; but my elbow has took that
lady that's two steps furder down on the stairs, jist in the eye, and
knocked in her dead light. How she cries! how I apologize, don't I?
And the more I beg pardon, the wus she carries on. But it's no go; if I
stay, I must fust fight somebody, and then marry _her_; for I've spiled
her beauty, and that's the rule here, they tell me.'

"So I sets studen sail booms, and cracks on all sail, and steers for
home, and here I am once more; at least what's left of me, and that
ain't much more nor my shader. Oh dear! I'm tired, shockin' tired,
almost dead, and awful thirsty; for Heaven's sake, give me some lignum
vitae, for I am so dry, I'll blow away in dust.

"This is a Swoi-ree, Squire, this is London society; this is rational
enjoyment, this is a meeting of friends, who are so infarnal friendly
they are jammed together so they can't leave each other. Inseparable
friends; you must choke 'em off, or you can't part 'em. Well, I ain't
jist so thick and intimate with none o' them in this country as all that
comes to nother. I won't lay down my life for none on 'em; I don't see
no occasion for it, _do you_?

"I'll dine with you, John Bull, if you axe me; and I ain't nothin' above
particular to do, and the cab hire don't cost more nor the price of a
dinner; but hang me if ever I go to a Swoi-ree agin. I've had enough of
that, to last me _my_ life, I know. A dinner I hante no objection to,
though that ain't quite so bright as a pewter button nother, when you
don't know you're right and left, hand man. And an evenin' party, I
wouldn't take my oath I wouldn't go to, though I don't know hardly what
to talk about, except America; and I've bragged so much about that, I'm
tired of the subject. But a _Swoi-ree is the devil, that's a fact_."

CHAPTER XII. TATTERSALL'S OR, THE ELDER AND THE GRAVE DIGGER.

"Squire," said Mr. Slick, "it ain't rainin' to-day; suppose you come
along with me to Tattersall's. I have been studyin' that place a
considerable sum to see whether it is a safe shop to trade in or no. But
I'm dubersome; I don't like the cut of the sportin' folks here. If I can
see both eends of the rope, and only one man has hold of one eend, and
me of the tother, why I know what I am about; but if I can only see my
own eend, I don't know who I am a pullin' agin. I intend to take a rise
out o' some o' the knowin' ones here, that will make 'em scratch thei