"'Well,' said I, 'now both my barrels are loaded. I've got nothing in my bag but an old buck rabbit with a nob tail; and as I hate going home with no proofs of my sport, and the one head--or tail--that I have bagged takes the domestic character, what shall I give you to have a shot with both barrels at all those ducks in the pond, and the fowls on the side of it, standing here, and to carry away what I kill?' "'You'll kill a woundy sight on 'em, I think, at that distance,' said the considerate farmer. "'Perhaps yes--perhaps no,' said I. "'And to have all you kill?' said he, doubtingly. "'Yes; all I kill fairly out-and-out,' said I. "'Why, you shall give me half-a-guinea,' said the man. "'Half-a-guinea!' echoed I. 'No, no; if I kill three or four of them it will be the outside. No; I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll stand here--won't move an inch; and you shall have a seven-shilling piece for the slaughter.' "'Well, sir,' said the farmer, hitching up his lower garments, 'a bargain's a bargain. Hand over the twine.' "Whereupon," said Daly, "I tipped him that beautiful miniature portrait of half-a-guinea, and told him I was ready to take my shots. He nodded assent; and, having pocketed the money, bade me proceed. I did so. Crack went one barrel--bang! slap went the other--bang!--and such a fluttering, and cackling, and squashing, and squabbling you never heard. I ran forward, and secured, as my spoil, four hens in high condition, a very respectable cock, fit companion for my rabbit; and from the pond fished, with the butt-end of my Manton, two extremely corpulent ducks, who had paid the debt of nature in the most decided manner; these I got out, the others I got up, and stuffed them all incontinently into my bag, delighted to think what a display I should make at Wrigglesworth, where it was quite clear I could, by no possibility, arrive in time for dinner. However, that was _my_ joke, and it seemed to be the farmer's; he laughed quite as much as I did." "Inherent good humour, I suppose," said I. "Why, as for that," said Daly, "_you_ shall judge. I bagged my birds in the first instance; and then, having secured my booty, began to rally my victim; and having acknowledged his civility in giving me my travelling directions, said to him, with a low bow, 'Thank you for the game, sir.' "'Yes, sir,' said the farmer, 'you are a deuced sight better shot than I counted upon, considering what you had in your bag afore.' "'Yes,' said I, 'I think you are what you may call "done." Seven shillings won't pay for the poultry in my pouch, I guess.' "'No,' said the farmer, 'nor three times the money, I count.' "'Well, then,' replied I, 'I think I have the best of the bargain.' "'Not much,' said the man. "'Not much!' cried I; 'why, a guinea's worth of fowls for a seven-shilling piece----' "'Yees, sir, that's true,' said the fellow, turning slowly away from the hatch, and grinning as he turned; '_but they are none on 'em mine_.'