292 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



without leave being asked of any man, it would be 

 impossible to say. The quantity of spirits too, 

 and of other small matters, free from all duty, 

 provided in some mysterious manner to wash the 

 venison down, on the principle that good eating 

 requires good drinking, is also only known to those 

 who live here. If it is possible to get at woodland 

 records, faithfully told by word of mouth, you can 

 rely on their truth implicitly. The difficult thing 

 is for you to get these Folks generally have a 

 few official records concerning the deer and other 

 things, and those who killed them ; but if that which 

 is only known to their descendants could be told, 

 it would make a stirring record. Knowing this 

 to be a locality where you will get on only by 

 strictly minding your own business and keeping 

 your mouth shut, I look and listen intently, but 

 say little beyond " yes " and " no." Looking round 

 now with my glasses, I spy two woodmen at work 

 at the bottom and make my way quickly down 

 to them. " Can I get out on the road if I skirt the 

 bottom of the hill? " I ask. 



"Yes," one replies, "you ken git there, but 'tis 

 soft." 



