48 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



Looking him full in the face for one moment the 

 Squire said, " I will." 



I saw Ned some months after the Squire had 

 taken him. He was a prime favourite with all, 

 from the head-keeper to the grooms in the hunting 

 stable, and he did his duty honestly and efficiently. 

 As the good old Squire remarked, his doubtful 

 investment had turned out well. 



Gentlemen with high-bred dogs, held securely in 

 leash when walking on highroads the public roads 

 object to being told by the ignorant Jacks-in- 

 office not to let their dogs get in the covers. 

 This sort of thing at one time would have been 

 simply impossible. Numbers of boards are stuck 

 up on the outskirts of paltry little covers, stating 

 that all dogs found straying will run the risk of 

 being shot. This is simply sickening. I have 

 travelled for miles often without seeing a dog un- 

 less I have chanced to come upon a keeper with 

 his retriever or a shepherd with his dog. If these 

 matters were properly looked into I very much doubt 

 if some of these notice-boards have any right to 

 be there at all. I have seen home covers border- 

 ing on highroads close to populous villages, the 



