get yourself
clean as quick as possible, for Tom never gives one five minutes wherein
to dress himself; so bustle."

And off he went as he had finished speaking, and I shaking my new friend
cordially by an exceeding bony unwashed paw, incontinently followed his
example--and in good time I did so; for I had scarcely changed my
shooting boots and wet worsteds for slippers and silk socks, before my
door, as usual, was lounged open by Tom's massy foot, and I was thus
exhorted.

"Come, come, your supper's gittin' cold; I never see such men as you and
Archer is; you're wash, wash, wash--all day. It's little water enough
that you use any other ways."

"Why, is there any other use for water, Tom?" I asked, simply enough.

"It's lucky if there aint, any how--leastwise, where you and Archer is--
else you'd leave none for the rest of us. It's a good thing you han't
thought of washing your darned stinking hides in rum--you will be at it
some of these odd days, I warrant me--why now, McTaggart, it's only
yesterday I caught Archer up stairs, a fiddling away up there at his
teeth with a little ivory brush; brushing them with cold water--cleaning
them he calls it. Cuss all such trash, says I."

While I was listening in mute astonishment, wondering whether in truth
the old savage never cleaned his teeth, Archer made his appearance, and
to a better supper never did I sit down, than was spread at the old
round table, in such profusion as might have well sufficed to feed a
troop of horse.

"What have we got here, Tom?" cried Harry, as he took the head of the
social board; "quail-pie, by George--are there any peppers in it, Tom?"

"Sartain there is," replied that worthy, "and a prime rump-steak in the
bottom, and some first-best salt pork, chopped fine, and three small
onions; like little Wax-skin used to fix them, when he was up here last
fall."

"Take some of this pie, Frank;" said Archer, as he handed me a huge
plate of leafy reeking pie-crust, with a slice of fat steak, and a plump
hen quail, and gravy, and etceteras, that might have made an alderman's
mouth water; "and if you don't say it's the very best thing you ever
tasted, you are not half so good a judge as I used to hold you. It took
little Johnny and myself three wet days to concoct it. Pie, Tom, or
roast pig?" he continued; "or broiled woodcock? Here they are, all of
them?"

"Why, I reckon I'll take cock; briled meat wants to be ate right stret
away as soon as it c