The Confessions of a Poacher. 63 



was a powerful, deep-chested bitch, but up- 

 on one occasion she failed to jump a stiff, 

 stone fence, with a nine-pound hare in her 

 mouth. She did not bark, however, until she 

 had several times failed at the fence, and when 

 she thought her whereabouts were unknown. 

 Hares and partridges invariably squat on the 

 fallow or in the stubble when alarmed, and re- 

 main absolutely still till the danger is passed. 

 This act is much more likely to be observed 

 by the dog than its master, and in such cases 

 the lurchers gently rubbed my shins to apprise 

 me of the fact. Then I moved more cau- 

 tiously. Out-lying pheasants, rabbits in the 

 clumps, red grouse on the heather the old 

 dog missed none of them. Every movement 

 was noted, and each came to the capacious 

 pocket in turn. The only serious fights I ever 

 had were when keepers threatened to shoot 

 the dogs. This was a serious matter. Lurchers 

 take long to train, and a keeper's summary 

 proceeding often stops a whole winter's work, 

 as the best dogs cannot easily be replaced. 

 Many a one of our craft would as soon have 



