144 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



of them artist chaps walked round the garden, gun- 

 nin' about to get the best view, as he called it ; got 

 a umbrella and a lot of sticks, tied up under his arm 

 somethin' like a sweep's machine, only a different 

 colour. Well, he run right up aginst a hive with his 

 machine, anyhow ; didn't see where he was poking 

 to ; it was middlin' bad, by all accounts, for a time 

 made 'em downright mad ; bees can't bear to have 

 their hives knocked his wife heard 'em swarm out, 

 and come to see what was the matter. One of the 

 bees stung her on the side of the nose, that's why he 

 sent the dog in the water to move 'em. 'Prentices 

 to the trade out for a holiday, I should fancy. They 

 won't come round next week, or the week after, I'll 

 warrant. Have ye heard about his tame trout ? " 



"Yes." 



"That young fellow came down here for his 

 health, eh ? He corne for that fish, mister." 



The keeper looks at me, bursts out into a hearty 

 peal of laughter, and continues 



" I never told you what my lad Joe took you for 

 when you come here first, did I ? Well, you'll only 

 laugh, so here goes. Joe was getting ant's eggs for 

 the birds, up in the furze, and see you coming. He 



