?--why here's the bitters mixed, and Archer in the stable
this half hour past, and Jem's here with the hounds--and you, you lazy
snorting Injun, wasting the morning here in bed!"

My only reply to this most characteristic salutation, was to hurl my
pillow slap in his face, and--threatening to follow up the missile with
the contents of the water pitcher, which stood temptingly within my
reach, if he did not get out incontinently--to jump up and array myself
with all due speed; for, when I had collected my bewildered thoughts, I
well remembered that we had settled on a fox-hunt before breakfast, as a
preliminary to a fresh skirmish with the quail.

In a few minutes I was on foot and in the parlor, where I found a bright
crackling fire, a mighty pitcher of milk punch, and a plate of biscuit,
an apt substitute for breakfast before starting; while, however, I was
discussing these, Archer arrived, dressed just as I have described him
on the preceding day, with the addition of a pair of heavy hunting
spurs, buckled on over his half-boots, and a large iron-hammered whip in
his right hand.

"That's right, Frank," he exclaimed, after the ordinary salutations of
the morning.

"Why that old porpoise told me you would not be ready these two hours;
he's grumbling out yonder by the stable door, like a hog stuck in a
farm-yard gate. But come, we may as well be moving, for the hounds are
all uncoupled, and the nags saddled--put on a pair of straps to your
fustian trowsers and take these racing spurs, though Peacock does not
want them--and now, hurrah!"

This was soon done, and going out upon the stoop, a scene--it is true,
widely different from the kennel door at Melton, or the covert side at
Billesdon Coplow, yet not by any means devoid of interest or animation--
presented itself to my eyes. About six couple of large heavy hounds,
with deep and pendant ears, heavy well-feathered sterns, broad chests,
and muscular strong limbs, were gathered round their feeder, the
renowned Jem Lyn; on whom it may not be impertinent to waste a word or
two, before proceeding to the mountain, which, as I learned, to my no
little wonder, was destined to be our hunting ground.

Picture to yourself, then, gentle reader, a small but actively formed
man, with a face of most unusual and portentous ugliness, an uncouth
grin doing the part of a smile; a pair of eyes so small that they would
have been invisible, but for the serpent-like vivacity and brightne