"Keep the boat in shore," cried Zed, with his mouth half filled with mud; "I shall have her in another minute."
"'Don't say so till you're sure!'" retorted Phil again; and just then the sportsman who had shot the heron jumped out of his boat on a firmer part of the strand, and, running along the bank, arrived at the spot where Zed was struggling with the bird. He struck off Zed's hold of the fowl with a slight blow from his fowling-piece, and bore away the bird in triumph. Zed slipped into the Trent, and went souse over head, but rose instantly, and clambered into the boat. He vented his disappointment and vexation against the sportsman in no very gentle terms, while the sportsman mocked him from the bank; and, when the captor of the heron stepped into his boat, Zed urged Phil to pull away, that they might capsize the fellow, and give him a ducking, as he said in his foolish haste. But Phil was always Zed's better angel, though he was but a blind old fiddler. "No, no, Zed," he cried, "you shall not go that way. Let us make for home, that you may get to the fire-side. I say you shall not go—and I mean it, too."
Nobody in the world could control Zed Marrowby but Phil Garret, when old Zed was in his fuddled freaks; and even Phil could not always succeed; but Zed's wet shirt helped to cool his choler in this instance.
"To old Nick with the fellow, and his heron-sue!" cried Zed, pulling in the same direction with Phil; "I'll e'en let him take his live lumber: what good will it do him?"
"Just as the fox said of the grapes, when he couldn't reach 'em—'Hang 'em! they're as sour as crabs!'" rejoined Phil; "but that was what I said to myself, when you were struggling so hard to get the useless fowl; and what good would it have done you, Zed?"
"Hang me, if I know, exactly!" replied Zed, looking foolish, and wishing himself in a corner.
"You wouldn't like to eat a heron-sue, for they're as rank as stinking fish, I've heard say," continued Phil; "and what else you would have done with it I'm quite at a loss to guess: but never mind, Zed, you've got a cooler, now,—and I think you won't be so hot again for some time to come."
"Well, well, it's all in our lifetime," said Zed, resolving to be cheerful; "only pull away, and let us get to our own fire-side, that I may dry my old skin, there's a jolly fellow!"
"So I will, Zed," replied Phil, and doubled the force of his strokes at the oar; "but I hope you'll promise me not to resume your gold-digging when we land under the old castle-walls."
"I will, I will, Phil,—and so don't banter me any more; I shall be a cooler man for some time to come, after this, depend on't," answered Zed, with his teeth chattering.