BIRDS OF PREY 153 



broom go off with a bang yet, though ye did shoulder 

 it so mighty perky like. No, it ain't gone off with a 

 bang yet, or I'd ha' heard it.' 



' Now, don't ye, father, run on in that 'ere maudlin', 

 aggrewatin' way, as if second childishness had got ye 

 by the nose, or you'll riz my wool up, an' git a bit o' 

 my mind, so I tell ye.' 



'Well, I dunno as that 'ud be an onusual treat, 

 seein' I gits it pretty often as 'tis.' 



' Keeper shall shoot the varmint ; I'll git him to 

 do it.' 



' Ay, he shot one before, leastways he showed ye 

 one, an' you asked him in, an' giv' him a tumbler o' 

 that old mead. Arter that I took notes as he'd allus 

 got a sparrow-hawk that he'd shot on this 'ere bit o' 

 a farm. They was allus either comin' to it or goin' 

 from it, one or t'other ; 'twas cur'ous what a lot on 

 'em there was about all the time that 'ere mead 

 lasted. When the stone bottle giv' out there warn't 

 one to be sin about for love or money. No, dame, 

 'tain't very often as I makes up my mind to hev' my 

 own way, but when I does I has it, and that 'ere 

 keeper don't shoot no more hawks here. There's 

 on'y this 'un comes, an' the wust he kin do is to 

 snapper a chick ; certin sure I be he can't drink a 

 gallon o' old mead. Tell ye what, I'll get shepherd's 



