No, Sir; but it's close by it. It's Captain Boldwig's land; but there'll be

nobody to interrupt us, and there's a fine bit of turf there.'

Very well,' said old Wardle. 'Now the sooner we're off the better. Will

you join us at twelve, then, Pickwick?'

Mr Pickwick was particularly desirous to view the sport, the more

especially as he was rather anxious in respect of Mr Winkle's life and

limbs. On so inviting a morning, too, it was very tantalising to turn

back, and leave his friends to enjoy themselves. It was, therefore, with

a very rueful air that he replied -

Why, I suppose I must.'

Ain't the gentleman a shot, Sir?' inquired the long gamekeeper.

No,' replied Wardle; 'and he's lame besides.'

I should very much like to go,' said Mr Pickwick - 'very much.'

There was a short pause of commiseration.

There's a barrow t'other side the hedge,' said the boy. 'If the

gentleman's servant would wheel along the paths, he could keep nigh

us, and we could lift it over the stiles, and that.'

The wery thing,' said Mr Weller, who was a party interested,

inasmuch as he ardently longed to see the sport. 'The wery thing. Well

said, Smallcheek; I'll have it out in a minute.'

But here a difficulty arose. The long gamekeeper resolutely protested

against the introduction into a shooting party, of a gentleman in a

barrow, as a gross violation of all established rules and precedents. It

was a great objection, but not an insurmountable one. The

gamekeeper having been coaxed and feed, and having, moreover,

eased his mind by 'punching' the head of the inventive youth who had

first suggested the use of the machine, Mr Pickwick was placed in it,

and off the party set; Wardle and the long gamekeeper leading the

way, and Mr Pickwick in the barrow, propelled by Sam, bringing up

the rear.

Stop, Sam,' said Mr Pickwick, when they had got half across the first

field.

What's the matter now?' said Wardle.

The Pickwick Papers