ANOTHER PART OF THE RIVER. 51 



fields of the district. He has the various calls by rote 

 and instinct, and can lure, almost to his arm's-reach, a 

 harem of moor-hens. He is the pink and paramount 

 of poachers an apt and dead shot a tasteful dog- 

 breaker, sinewed like the hill-fox, with somewhat also 

 of its sneaking and cowardly dispositions. When 

 challenged, he exhibits his gun in such a manner as. 

 effectually to keep at bay the individual attempting to 

 capture him. How he has managed so long to escape 

 the handcuffs, is to me a matter of wonder ; for the 

 villain would halt at nothing, and has no more com- 

 punction or sensibility than a tiger-cat. In fact, with-? 

 out allowing an over-sufficiency of credit, I have reason 

 to give some faith to the report of certain sable 

 delinquencies, which, if committed by him, display in 

 its true colours the vindictive nature of the vagabond. 



Swivel. There is a prank in his pate at present, 

 or I much mistake. See you, he fords the water, 

 in order to join his vinegar- visaged companion. 

 That the twain are holding war-council, you may 

 divine from their gestures. Let us cross also, and 

 increase our forces on the opposite bank. Two such 

 able-bodied scoundrels might drub the breath out 

 of them ere our column come into action. 



Leister. No fear. They will fight it stoutly \ 

 and yet, to keep off mischief, we may as well be at 

 hand. Such vagabonds are in nowise particular 

 about their mode of attack, and will not hesitate to 

 use sturdier weapons than their mere fists. 



