196 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



alarmed by the cry of the other birds. Chuck ! 

 chuck ! chuck ! chuckup ! Chuckup ! chuck ! chuck ! 

 others take the alarm, and join in chorus with 

 the chucking solo. 



Before you have gone three hundred yards you 

 feel sure in your own mind that you will come 

 across a keeper ; and you are not mistaken, for, 

 as you cross one of those mighty kissing - stiles, 

 at a place where rides or woodland paths meet, 

 close to the stem of a tree which you have to 

 pass, stands the guardian of the wood a stout 

 ash-plant in his hand, capable of fetching a man 

 or stray dog down at one blow with his retriever 

 by his side, man and dog motionless. He will 

 look hard at the field-glass in your hand, and at 

 yourself too ; and if you chance to turn round as 

 you go on your way, you will find that he is watch- 

 ing you still. If you thought fit to tell him that 

 you used that glass as a harmless observer of birds, 

 he might appear to credit your assertion, "jest to 

 obligate ye," as our country folks say; but in his 

 own mind he would associate that innocent double- 

 barrel with partridges marked down from the road, 

 jugged for the night, or pheasants marked to roost. 



