14 The Gamekeeper at Home. 



and sixty he can still step briskly through a heavy 

 field-day, despite the weight of reserve ammunition 

 he carries. He can keep on his feet without fatigue 

 from morn till eve, and goes his rounds without abat- 

 ing one inch of the distance. In one thing alone he 

 feels his years — i.e. in pace ; and when * young 

 master,' who is a disciple of the modern athletic 

 school, comes out, it is about as much as ever he 

 can do to keep up with him over the stubble. Never 

 once for the last thirty years has he tossed on a bed 

 of sickness ; never once has he failed to rise from his 

 slumber refreshed and ready for his labour. His 

 secret is — but let him tell it in his own words : 



' It's indoors, sir, as kills half the people ; being 

 indoors three parts of the day, and next to that taking 

 too much drink and vittals. Eating's as bad as drink- 

 ing ; and there ain't nothing like fresh air and the 

 smell of the woods. You should come out here in 

 the spring, when the oak timber is throwed (because, 

 you see, the sap be rising, and the bark strips then), 

 and just sit down on a stick fresh peeled — I means a 

 trunk, you know — and sniff up the scent of that there 

 oak bark. It goes right down your throat, and pre- 

 serves your lungs as the tan do leather. And I've 

 heard say as folk who work in the tan-yards never 

 have no illness. There's always a smell from trees, 



