“I wonder if there’s any duck left,” said Jiggins, with a sigh. “Or roaster,” said Muckle, with another sigh. “No,” said Pat, mournfully. “Sammy and Johnny have disposed av thim.” Sammy and Johnny both looked innocently down, and by their silence acknowledged the soft impeachment. “I’ve a presentiment,” said Jiggins, “that I’m going to be very hungry before bed time.” “1 shouldn’t wonder if some of the rest of us were like you,” said Muckle. “And now,” said Jiggins, in a grave and solemn tone, “what ought we to do?” “We haven’t much time left,” said Muckle, suggestively. “Something must be done,” said Jiggins, emphatically. “And soon, too,” added Muckle. “Deed, thin, an’ why don’t ye go aff an’ do somethin’?” said Pat, energetically. “Come, now, whatever ye do, I’m yer man. Is it another duck ye mane?” Jiggins shook his head. “It would hardly do--” “Do--it jist wud, thin.” Jiggins shook his head. “The fact is, I have my doubts about it. I don’t think it’s altogether right.” “Thin what made ye ate it for?” said Pat. “There wor others that thought it was all right--they did.” “I felt badly while eating it. I felt it was--not--right.” “Do ye mane it wasn’t done right?” Jiggins shook his head. “Well,” said Pat, “if ye didn’t like the duck, how did ye like the pig? Ye’ll not be findin’ fault with that, I think.” Jiggins shook his head. “I have my doubts.” “O, botheration take your doubts. Why didn’t ye doubt before ye sat down?” Jiggins shook his head. “I tell you what,” said Muckle; “I’ve got an idea.” “What?” cried all. “Clams!” said Muckle. “Clams?” said Jiggins. “Look,” said Muckle, waving his hand over toward the flats; “do you see that?” “Yes.” “Well, it’s full of clams.” “Why, of course--of course,” said Jiggins. “Why, so it is. What do you say, boys?” “I say yis,” cried Pat. “Hurroo, boys! if we can’t have a duck, or a roaster, again, we’ll have clams.” “Hand along a basket then, Sammy,” said Jiggins. As Sammy gave him one, he said,-- “Now, you two, are you coming?” “Well--no--we don’t care about it,” said Sammy. “Well, you wait here and kindle the fire, and get a pot ready. We’ll cook them the moment we get back.” “All right,” said the two boys. Upon this Jiggins, and Muckle, and Pat started off after the clams. Before leaving the shore, they got some sticks to use for scraping up the sand, and then directed their steps toward the creek. The creek ran through the middle of the cove, and on each side of it the wide flats extended up to the shore. These, toward the lower part of the cove, were formed of soft mud, but at the upper part they consisted of sand, in which appeared a multitude of little holes, which are generally called breathing-holes, about these parts, under the impression that they serve this purpose for the clams. By digging where these little holes are seen, the clams may be found buried in the sand and mud.