MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE. 79 



completely routed us. The allusion to the cat, the mouse, and the 

 kitchen, contained so much element of truth, and made us feel so 

 very small, that some time elapsed before we regained our spirits, 

 and alluded to the subject of sport again. 



But mv mind had been much exercised by reading Cooper's 

 novels. The noble character of Hawk-eye made me long to be a 

 trapper ; and when I got sufficient money to buy a trap, I at 

 once commenced a little poaching on my own account. Having 

 also purchased a small plasterer's hammer to do duty as a toma- 

 hawk, I felt as happy as I could be with an incubus of grammar 

 hanging over me, coupled with a scanty amount of food. The 

 bracing air of the district, which produced a Derby winner in my 

 time, made me also very fleet of foot, and as our play hours were 

 so short, I more often ran than walked, so that in setting out to 

 poach, I felt confident that the lessons I had learnt from Hawk-eye, 

 aided by my heels, would set the guardians of rabbits at defiance. 



The goal of my first trapping expedition was an old unused chalk- 

 pit, in a field to the left of the Pewsey road, and having first 

 carefully ascertained that no one was about, I set my trap at the 

 mouth of a hole, which appeared to contain some inmates. But 

 on returning next da}', I found that in place of the expected rabbit, 

 I had caught a huge Tom-cat, which I tomahawked at once, and 

 dragged out of the pit. This I considered by no means a bad 

 beginning, and I sat down on the bank, thinking how I should 

 dispose of my prize. My trousers were sadly frayed all round my 

 ankles, where " tucks " had been let-out, and I thought at first I 

 would follow the example of O'Flinn, who "had no breeches to wear, 

 so he got an old cat-skin and made him a pair." As that would 

 not exactly do, I caught up the animal by the tail, and bent my 

 steps triumphantly back to School, regardless of the chaff of. 

 everyone I met upon the road. On reaching the " iron railings " 

 however, the detective saw me, and in spite of my protestations, 

 relieved me of my prize. 



One of my school fellows used to tell with much humour a long 



