SNARING RUFFS. A NEST. 47 



bottom of the hill, and was apparently master of the field ; but 

 instead of returning to his post on the top, he flew away, 

 leaving his adversary fluttering vainly, and evidently fast by the 

 leg. Then the rushes on the other side of the open space were 

 pushed aside, and a man in a rude boat made his appearance, 

 and proceeded to seize the ruff and kill it. 



" The mystery of the light is explained," said Frank. 

 " Hallo ! you there, what are you doing that for?" 



The man started and looked round, answering surlily, 



" What's that to you ? " 



" Oh, don't get into a wax. We only want to know for 

 information's sake. What will you sell that ruff for?" 



" Two shillings, sir," replied the man, in a much more civil 

 tone. 



" Well, here you are. Are there many ruffs about here ?" 



" No, sir, I have not seen any for the last two years until 

 this spring. They used to be common enough when I was a 

 iad, and I have taken a score in one morning with these 

 snares. I have seen more than a dozen together on one hill, 

 and twice as many reeves around looking on. Those were fine 

 times for us fowlers, those were." 



The boys asked to be allowed to look at his snares. They 

 were made of horsehair, and were set in this fashion : A 

 length of hair with a running noose at each end was fixed by 

 the middle into the slit of a peg. which was then driven into 

 the ground. A number of these were set round the base of 

 the hill with the nooses projecting about an inch above the 

 surface of the herbage, and as the birds were driven off the 

 hill they were caught by them. It was necessary, the man 

 said, to keep a strict watch on the snares, for the birds some- 

 times broke away, or the rats and weasels, of which there are 

 plenty in the marshes, would be beforehand with the fowler 

 and seize the captured birds. 



" I suppose you were setting your snares last night ? " 



" Ay, sir," replied the man, laughing ; " I heard you 

 coming after me, so I put my light out. I did not know what 

 sort of men you might be, and they make believe to pre- 

 serve these marshes now, and it is hard work for us to get 

 a living." 



" Don't you think there may be a ruff's nest somewhere 

 about?" said Jimmy. 



