lazily to and fro, appearing to enjoy his ducking; and when the other two swam to him and endeavoured to convey him on board he declared that he was the Diver of the Adriatic, and that he was going in search of the ring with which the Doge of Venice had married the sea; and that the two others were base conspirators who wanted to get it from him: and a whole lot of bosh. Whereupon, they began a sort of duck-hunt in the water, which was no small fun, and which, from the jollity of its nature, seemed so infectious, that I confess
that I and a few others were very nearly tempted to join them in their worship of Isis."
"Oh! I say, Charley!" shouted Mr. Billy Blades, "don't do that again, or I shall vote that you are sconced. Your puns are ponderous."
"A pun' weight, I suppose?" laughed Charles Larkyns; for which further offence there was a yell of indignation. "But, to return to my muttons, who, in this instance, were like sheep being washed—except that it was warmer weather than that in which sheep are usually washed, and, consequently, the ducking was
