274 IN THE GREEN LEAF 



and where we might not go, and I never 

 knew him to be disobeyed. Something in that 

 man's voice and bearing kept the most daring 

 youngster from dreaming of disobedience. 



No trophies adorned the gable-end of his 

 large, ivy-covered cottage ; and so quiet was 

 the place, so free from disturbance, that we 

 have watched the green woodpeckers wariest 

 of birds playing about the trunks of the 

 decayed trees near his house, with all the 

 confidence of titmice ; such a sight as I can 

 never hope to see again. 



The ravens nested and brought out their 

 young unharried by him. But orders were 

 at last given, or at any rate desires were 

 so strongly expressed, that they could not be 

 ignored ; and the ravens, being consequently 

 robbed of their young, with their proverbial 

 sagacity, left that neighbourhood, and found 

 for themselves a new home in Sussex. I 

 believe I saw the very last one that was in 

 Surrey. 



I once heard a large preserver of game say 

 to a keeper he had engaged, " No one comes 

 between you and me. You are responsible for 

 the carrying out of my orders, and from no 

 one but myself will you receive any. I shall 



