THE GENUINE POACHER. 



169 



who is well-versed in field-craft and matches his wits 

 squarely against those of the gamekeeper and the 

 wild creatures he desires to capture, I must frankly 

 confess to a great deal of sympathy, for he is often 

 impelled by the same instincts as the best sports- 

 man, whose privileges he lacks the enjoyment of, 



PARTRIDGE ON NEST. 



frequently by a mere accident of birth. I have 

 known such men personally, and in their characters 

 there was not any other moral kink whatsoever. 

 One such fell upon evil days mainly through the 

 ruin of his health by exposure, and was at last 

 compelled to pawn his trusty gun in a small pro- 

 vincial town. As it was not redeemed within the 

 allotted period of time it was placed in the window 

 for sale. The decrepit poacher happened to be 

 hobbling past one day on two sticks, and after 



