1880] THE WAEWICKSHIRE KEEPEES. 59 



he hoped and believed was safely ensconced by his own fireside at Colwick. 

 He was quite taken aback. " Well, keeper," says Mr. Musters, " I see yov 

 are quite a man of your word. Yoii promised to have the fox taken care of, 

 and I see you are carrying out your intentions most honestly." " "Why, yes, 

 sir," stammered out the confounded keeper, " there be so many fox killers 

 about here, I was afeard some one would catch him, so I thought it better to 

 dig 'un out and bring 'un over to you at the kennels." "But you are giving 

 yourself a great deal of unnecessary trouble," says the squire, " witli all this 

 digging. I should have thought that a man who had dug so many foxes as 

 you have knew better how to get one out of the ground than this. Bring 

 your spade here, and I think I can throw a little light on the subject." And 

 with these remarks he ordered the fellow to clear the main mouth of the 

 earth, which had been carefully stopped up with soil to prevent poor reynard 

 from bolting, and, stooping down, with the hook of his hunting whip he drew 

 out the fox's head. " There, keeper," said the squire, " That is the fox you 

 have l^eeu digging for, and that is the only fox within three miles of this 

 place, for you have killed them all. I have always thought you the greatest 

 rogue and liar in this part of the world, and to-day I have proved you to be 

 so. I hope you will act more honestly to me for the future." And, after 

 making the men fill in the trenches and put the earth to rights, he galloped 

 home to his dinner. 



To the Warwickshire keepers we are much indebted 

 for the excellent preservation of foxes in the country. We 

 give a few of their names. I/j/primis, Jesse Eales, Lord 

 Willoughbj's keeper at Compton Verney. Eales is a well- 

 known character. He was horn at Combroke, where he 

 was noted as being the most mischievous boy in the 

 village. He served for some years in the Birmingham 

 police, where his beat was so dangerous that he was 

 allowed to carry what he called a " cutlash " (cutlass). 

 He returned to Compton, and took the second place under 

 old Enoch, and has remained there ever since. He is well 

 known to all the gentlemen of the Hunt, and his dry 

 sayings and universal and varied information make him a 

 great favourite and a capital companion. He always has 

 some answer ready, generally to the point. I introduced 

 my wife to him, and said : " This is Eales, and he taught 

 me most things I know about sport." " Yes, ma'am, and 

 a great many things as Mr. Verney didn't ought to know, 

 either," was the answer. He has one great recommendation 

 for a keeper — he is desperately fond of hunting. He is also 

 a great politician. John Creed, the keeper at Chesterton, 

 is also deservedly popular. He has not so much to say as 



