THE GAMEKEEPER AT HOME. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE MAN HIMSELF — HIS HOUSE, AND TOOLS. 



The keeper's cottage stands in a sheltered ' coombe,' 

 or narrow hollow of the woodlands, overshadowed by 

 a mighty Spanish chestnut, bare now of leaves, but in 

 summer a noble tree. The ash wood covers the slope 

 at the rear ; on one side is a garden, and on the other 

 a long strip of meadow with elms. In front, and 

 somewhat lower, a streamlet winds, fringing the sward, 

 and across it the fir plantations begin, their dark 

 sombre foliage hanging over the water. A dead 

 willow trunk thrown from bank to bank forms a rude 

 bridge ; the tree, not even squared, gives little surface 

 for the foot, and in frosty weather a slip is easy. 

 From this primitive contrivance a path, out of which 

 others fork, leads into the intricacies of the covers, 

 and from the garden a wicket-gate opens on the ash 



B 



