PRESERVATION OF GAME, &c 261 



so far, as studiously to avoid his acquaintance ; be- 

 cause there are some greedy destroyers, who take an 

 unfair advantage of their own skill and their hosts 

 indulgence; and, on the other hand, correct men, 

 who have been known to kill an immense bag of 

 game, at his particular request, for the supply of an 

 election dinner, or some other reasonable purpose. 



Thus many lords of manors, who would rather 

 lose an ounce of their own blood than a brace of 

 their pheasants, have been striving to preserve every 

 head of game by day, while the poachers, unmolested, 

 were clearing it by wholesale during the night 

 Sometimes, too, notwithstanding all their caution, 

 their manors are invaded even l)y day, with old 

 stagers from a garrison, who select market days, 

 when the tenants are absent, and windy weather, 

 when they can manoeuvre to leeward and outflank 

 the keepers. 



Others again manage to create a diversion in 

 favour of their trespass, by having the keepers drawn 

 to opposite points, with the discharge of double guns 

 and pistols ; or, getting some bad shots, on promising 

 them a share of the booty, to throw themselves in 

 the way of the lookers out, and occupy their whole 

 attention ; first by running away to give them a 

 chase that will prolong their distance from the real 

 point of attack; and then, by warmly arguing in a 

 wrong cause, so as to engross their attention with a 

 triumphant explanation of their own knowledge, and 

 their prisoner's ignorance in the game laws. 



