198 The Amateur Poacher 



mug of ale while we get our guns greatly cheers him, 

 and unlooses his tongue. 



All the way to Redcote he impresses on us the 

 absolute necessity for silence while ferreting, and con- 

 gratulates us on having a nearly still day. He is a 

 little doubtful about Orion's spaniel and whether it 

 will keep quiet or not. 



When we reach the double-mound, his talk entirely 

 ceases : he is as silent and as rugged as a pollard 

 oak. By the top of the mound the sack of nets is 

 thrown down on the sward and opened. As there 

 are more holes on the other side of the hedge Orion 

 goes over with Little John, and I proceed to set up 

 the nets on mine. 



I found some difficulty in getting at the bank, the 

 bushes being so thick, and had to use the billhook and 

 chop a way in : I heard Little John growling about 

 this in a whisper to Orion. Very often before going 

 with the ferrets people send a man or two a few hours 

 previously to chop and clear the bushes. The effect 

 is that the rabbits will not bolt freely. They hear 

 the men chopping, and the vibration of the earth as 

 they clumsily climb over the banks, and will not come 

 out till absolutely forced. If it is done at all, it should 

 be done a week beforehand. This was why Little 



