FOR YOUNG SHOOTERS 89 



There are other animals which your true keeper 

 holds in aversion. And chief amongst these is the 

 domestic cat. You might as well try to keep a 

 journalist from his writing-paper as country cats 

 from the coverts. They are inveterate and deter- 

 mined poachers, and, alas, they meet with scant 

 mercy from the keeper if he catches them. Many 

 a fireside tabby or tortoise-shell dies a violent death 

 in the course of every year, and is buried in a 

 secret grave. This often gives rise to disturbance, 

 for the cottager, to whom the deceased was as the 

 apple of her eye, may make complaint of the 

 keeper to his master. My friend Sykes, one of the 

 best keepers I know, once related to me an incident 

 of this nature. As it may help to explain the 

 nature of keepers, and throw light on the conversa- 

 tional method to be adopted with them, I here 

 set down the winged words in which Sykes 

 addressed me. 



6 Trouble, sir ? I believe you. Them old women 

 gives me a peck o' trouble, far more nor the 

 breakin' of a retriever dog. There's old Mrs. 

 Padstow, Mother Padds we call 'er, she's a rare old 

 teaser. Went up to Mr. Chalmers last week and 

 told 'im I'd shot 'er pet cat. Mr. Chalmers 'e 



