18 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN. 



and, shouting out to us, "AYe knows 3'e," tliey looked 

 on our masks, and took to their heels like mad. They 

 had some distance to run for aid, so we drove the 

 barley, and departed. 



This same farmer, in a subsequent season, left 

 some corn adjoining his potatoes, close to his house, 

 to attract tlie pheasants. As usual with us then, this 

 was a signal for war. So we sent for my brother 

 Augustus, whose person was not known, and for 

 Captain Claxton, R. N., to shoot in his corn at daj^- 

 light on the first of October, driving all towards 

 home. Knowing they would l)e ordered off di- 

 rectly, their directions were of course to obe}^ ; Ijut, 

 as they began on the farthest side from us, to 

 come off the longest way, and, in fact, to drive 

 it all as we desired. Resolved to sec the fun, I 

 ascended into an elm tree which stood on the enemy's 

 bounds, but within a few yards of the manor. I shall 

 never forget it. The tree in which I sat must have 

 lost many of its fading leaves from the shaking 

 m)^ laughter occasioned. They had not fired man}^ 

 shots — Claxton missed every thing — when out came 

 a half-dressed foreman on a pony, and, after him, 

 from different cottages, up came several labourers, 

 all clustering around and abusing the sportsmen. 

 My brother -was an awkward customer for a foe to 

 handle ; so I guessed that he would care for Claxton's 

 safet}^ as well as his own. At first, mine was but 

 a bird's-eye view of it ; but the wrangling, threaten- 

 ing, and fun came nearer. At last, I heard threats 

 among the men of seizing my brother; on which, 

 Claxton, wlio pretended to be a foreigner, and not to 

 speak Englisli, and was a very funny- looking little 

 punchy fellow, put himself into the best acted rage 



