'
our supper for no lies, I guess! Leastways I won't! Come Archer."

And with a right good appetite they walked into the parlor; every thing
was in order; every article placed just as it had been when Frank went
up to spend his first week in the Woodlands; the gun-case stood on the
same chairs below the window; the table by the door was laid out with
the same display of powder-flasks, shot-pouches, and accoutrements of
all sizes. The liquor-stand was placed by Harry's chair, open,
containing the case-bottles, the rummers being duly ranged upon the
board, which was well lighted by four tall wax candles, and being laid
with Harry's silver, made quite a smart display. The rabbits smoked at
the head, smothered in a rich sauce of cream, and nicely shredded
onions; the pork chops, thin and crisply broiled, exhaled rich odors at
the bottom; the English snipe, roasted to half a turn, and reposing on
their neat squares of toast, were balanced by a dish of well-fried
sausages, reclining on a bed of mashed potatoes; champagne was on the
table, unresined and unwired, awaiting only one touch of the knife to
release the struggling spirit from its transparent prison. Few words
were spoken for some time, unless it were a challenge to champagne, the
corks of which popped frequently and furious; or a request for another
snipe, or another spoonful of the sauce; while all devoted themselves to
the work in hand with a sincere and business-like earnestness of
demeanor, that proved either the excellence of Tom Draw's cookery, or
the efficacy of the Spartan sauce which the sportsmen had brought to
assist them at their meal. The last rich drops of the fourth flask were
trickling into Tom's wide-lipped rummer, when Harry said:

"Come, we have done, I think, for one night; let's have the eatables
removed, and we will have a pipe, and hear what Jem has got to say; and
you have told us nothing about birds, either, you old elephant; what do
you mean by it? That's right, Tim, now bring in my cigars, and Mr.
Forester's cheroots, and cold iced water, and boiling-hot water, and
sugar, out of my box, and lemons. The shrub is here, and the Scotch
whiskey; will you have another bottle of champagne, Tom? No! Well, then,
look sharp, Timothy, and send Jem in."

And thereupon Jem entered, thumbing his hat assiduously, and sat down in
the corner, by the window, where he was speedily accommodated with a
supply of liquor, enough to temper any quantity of clay.