e middle of
one of them, splashing his trousers all over with currant juice, and
considerably damaging the pie itself. It was in consequence the last
consumed, but a facetious gentleman helped it out to the people who sat
at the further end of the tablecloths, and knew nothing of the
catastrophe. Then there was champagne, which some of the boys in their
innocence called very good gooseberry wine, greatly to the disgust of
the gentleman who brought it: the truth being, however, that they liked
gooseberry wine just as much as the finest champagne to be procured.
Healths were drunk, and toasts were given, and sentiments and speeches
were made, which, if not very witty, caused a good deal of merriment and
laughter; and at last the dinner part of the pic-nic came to a
conclusion. Then, of course, the servants had to dine, which they did
at a little distance from the spot their masters had chosen, and seemed
to enjoy the fun, for they also drank toasts in ale, made speeches, and
laughed heartily at all their jokes. The ladies and gentlemen,
meantime, walked about, or sat down and admired the scenery, and the
boys got ready for their games. Targets had already been erected.
After the grown-up people began to get tired of looking at the views,
the gentlemen marked off the distance, and the ladies taking their bows,
shooting began. Ernest, Buttar, and some of the bigger boys joined
them, but they soon voted it very slow work, and Bouldon proposed taking
a roving expedition.

"We have not much time, so let us be off at once," said Ernest. "Nine
shall be the game. Are you all provided with blunt-headed arrows? That
is right. Twelve a-piece we should have. Let us take half-an-hour's
turn round the wood, and then be back for the races. By that time the
servants will have the dinner things cleared away and the ponies saddled
for racing."

Away went the party whom Ernest had enlisted right merrily. First they
fixed on an old oak-tree for their butt, and at a word given by Buttar,
who was chosen leader, every one shot from the spot where they were
standing. Some shafts hit the tree, others just glanced off, and others
flew altogether wide of it. Buttar had his note-book out, and the
distance each shaft had fallen from the tree was measured by the length
of the bows, every boy measuring with his own, and noted in the book.
They again ran on. "Halt!" said Buttar. "That elm, the third from the
gate, shall be our target.