POACHERS AND POACHING. 43 



presently strolled in for a pint. A few whispered 

 words passed Uetween him and the landlord, and 

 the man left. Half an hour later distant shots were 

 heard following each other in rapid succession. 

 The guardians of the home coverts heard them, 

 and rushed off to find that a complete slaughter 

 had been rapidly effected. 



The next morning one of the principals in that 

 shoot walked by those covers a public path ran by 

 the side of the largest and he found the " head-un " 

 stroking his stubbly chin, and using at intervals the 

 strongest language he was capable of. " He'd have 

 'em, if he watched day and night for 'em." This 

 he said to the man who was so innocently walking 

 round. The latter replied that " he hoped he might 

 git 'em ; for sich goin's on, in broad daylight, in a 

 little village like theirs was parfectly scand'lous." 



Some people are as clever in laying traps for 

 others as monkeys in cocked hats might be; less 

 clever indeed, one ought to say. 



There are men, however, whose unflinching but 

 unassuming efforts to carry out their duties have 

 gained for them the respect of the very class they 

 are continually at war with. I am not fond of the 



