A Surprise/ 129 



hope that I shall not be mistaken as holding 

 the view that hunting, properly conducted, is 

 likely to do serious damage to the farmer? 

 Not for worlds would I disregard a cry of 

 '* 'ware beans ! " or take the Field over a piece 

 of seeds that is very wet, but I do not think 

 it hurts a field of wheat to ride over it 

 providing the land is not hock and knee 

 deep. 



I can recall one occasion when we took a 

 deer on a piece of wheat, and, of course, we 

 trampled it down a great deal in that place. 

 The farmer was angry, and '^ blew me up" a 

 rum 'un, and wanted compensation. So I 

 promised that I would come back to him in 

 July, and look at his wheat. I met him one 

 day in that month, at the field gate, and civilly 

 gave him '* Good morning." He said : — 



'' Well, Mr. Kace, I can still see where you 

 took that deer." 



'* Can you, indeed ? " I asked. 



" Yes," he said. '' You come along with 

 me, and I'll show you." 



