( 44 ) 



been a noted deer-ftealer. He had often 

 (like his brother in the play) 



ftruck a doe, 



And born her cleanly by the keeper's nofe. 



Indeed he had been at the head of his pro- 

 feflion -, and during a reign of five years 

 allured me, he had killed, on an average, 

 not fewer than an hundred bucks a year. 

 At length he was obliged to abfcond; but 

 compofmg his affairs, he abjured his trade, 

 and would fpeak of his former arts without 

 referve. He has oftener than once confefTed 

 the fins of his youth to me; from which an 

 idea may be formed of the myftery of deer- 

 ftealing, in it's higheft mode of perfection. 

 In his excurfions in the foreft he carried with 

 him a gun, which fcrewed into three parts, 

 and which he could eafily conceal in the 

 lining of his coat. Thus armed he would 

 drink with the under-keepers without fuf- 

 picion ; and when he knew them engaged, 

 would fecurely take his ftand in fome diftant 

 part, and mark his buck. When he had 

 killed him, he would draw him afide into 

 the bufhes, and fpend the remaining part of 

 the day in a neighbouring tree, that he might 



be 



