330 WITH NATURE AND A CAMERA. 



cottage. He was in many respects one of the 

 most curious men with whom we have come in 

 contact. Well -versed in everything pertaining to 

 field-craft, slow and deliberate, but of the most set 

 purpose and dogged determination, strong as an ox, 

 and courageous as a lion, but withal tender-hearted 

 to a degree. 



When quite a small boy he was apprenticed to a 

 gamekeeper who, though a strict disciplinarian where 

 others were concerned, was totally unable to hold 

 himself under control. He used to set his apprentice 

 to mind young pheasants in the morning and, leaving 

 him for the seductive conviviality of a neighbouring 

 public-house, say "If I'm not back by the time the 

 so-and-so train passes this morning, you'll know I'm 

 done for for the day, but don't you leave the birds." 

 It was often one and two o'clock the following morn- 

 ing before the debauchee turned up again, and found 

 his youthful apprentice crying, but resolutely stick- 

 ing to his post, in spite of wind and rain and the 

 terrible loneliness of his vigil-keeping. 



Although, comparatively speaking, still only a 

 young man, our friend's experiences throw a lurid 

 light upon the dangers of his vocation. He has 

 had his comrade shot dead beside him by a 

 poacher in cold blood, has been deliberately shot 

 himself by a member of the same fraternity, 

 threatened with murder any number of times, 

 and once or twice been thoroughly peppered with 

 shot by accident. 



We have several times visited the Fame Islands, 

 and upon each occasion have received the most 

 courteous and kindly attention from Robert Darling 

 and his fellow-watchers, the brothers Patterson, who 

 are employed by an association for the protection 

 of the sea-birds breeding on this famous group of 



