The more pretending establishment to which we are rapidly approaching, threw out its clamors, and the din of many voices gathered upon the breeze in wild and incoherent confusion.

Deep bursts of laughter, and the broken stanza of an occasional catch roared out at intervals, promised something of relief to the dull mood; while, as the sounds grew more distinct, the quick ear of Forrester was enabled to distinguish the voices of the several revellers.
"There they are, in full blast," he muttered, "over a gallon of whiskey, and gulping it down as if 'twas nothing better than common water.

But, what's the great fuss to-night?
There's a crowd, I reckon, and they're a running their rigs on somebody." Even Forrester was at a loss to account for their excess of hilarity to-night.

Though fond of drink, and meeting often in a crowd, they were few of them of a class--using his own phrase--"to give so much tongue over their liquors." The old toper and vagabond is usually a silent drinker.

His amusements, when in a circle, and with a bottle before him, are found in cards and dice.