"How's this?—you didn't tramp, did you?" said he.
"No, sir, I rode both ways," I replied; "but I knew the coachmen, and they gave me a cast for nothing."
"Umph!—well, that's quite proper—quite proper," said he, considering a moment. "Honesty's the best policy."
"Father always told me so, sir."
"Your father's right;—there's half-a-crown for you."
I was delighted—
"Quantum cedat virtutibus aurum;"
and I felt the truth of this line of Dr. Johnson's, although I was then ignorant of it. I met his nephew on the landing, but my fears had vanished. We talked, however, of the departed bird, and he wished me, in the event of discovery, to declare that I had loaded and carried the gun, and that he would bear the rest of the blame.
This, however, strongly reminded me of the two Irish smugglers:—one had a wooden leg, and carried the cask; while his comrade, who had the use of both his pins, bore him upon his shoulders, and, complaining of the weight, the other replied:—"Och! thin, Paddy, what's the bothuration; if you carry me, don't I carry the whiskey, sure, and that's fair and aqual!" and I at once declined any such Hibernian partnership in the affair, quite resolved that he should bear the whole onus upon his own shoulders.