168 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



shrubs. It does not take long to trap nightingales. 

 And this was the talk the keeper heard, as he related 

 it to me one day when I met him on his rounds. 



"This is about the best place, pardner, as we've 

 fell in with, if you ask me. Did yer hear that ? why, 

 they must come in regular famblies; we've just 

 copped another, I heard the trap go down." 



" They must be reg'lar chawbacons in this 'ere 

 part o' the world ; they only wakes up once a-week, 

 and goes to sleep again directly. The last one 

 we've copped makes eight on 'em ; we'll be up in 

 the smoke before two o'clock, we ain't more 'an 

 half a mile from a station." 



" Right you are, pardner. Why, look here, if 

 we could have a run of luck like this for a week, 

 we could start a regular knock-out o' a bird-shop 

 in fust -class style with the pieces that these bloomin' 

 nightingales would fetch us. We ain't done bad 

 as it is. A most good - natured swell the party 

 must be as owns this property, to let us come an' 

 ketch 'em an' no notice took on it. We'll pick 

 up our traps now, pardner, an' go before we does 

 see any on 'em about. But if you ask me, there 

 ain't no chance o' sich a thing takin' place here." 



