POACHERS AND POACHING. 53 



fust inter one hole, then inter another. I could 

 see he was a stranger, an' that he was shy a-goin' 

 in other people's houses like. So thinks I to my- 

 self, if it was anybody but me comin' along you'd 

 git some mischief done to ye. I gits over, where 

 you sees me, to make him go into a hole. I've 

 only tried to do him a good turn, that's all." 



" You don't think that tale will answer, do you, 

 eh?" 



" It will, if you lets it ; you ain't forced to dis- 

 believe it, are ye ? " 



" What have you got in your basket ? " 



" My dinner." 



" Well, turn it out. Ah, I thought so pheasants' 

 eggs." 



"Only a dozen, that's all." 



" That's your dinner, is it ? " 



"Now look here, keeper, you listen to me for a 

 minute. Of all the tricks that was ever played on 

 a poor innercent feller, this is about the wust. My 

 natur ain't of a savage sort, but if I could drop on 

 the willian as put them 'ere eggs in my basket, I 

 should most likely hurt him with the fust thing I 

 could lay my hand on. They was put there by 



