210 The Gamekeeper at Home. 



creasing his own profit, both directly and indirectly. 

 In the first place, there is the little business of buying 

 eggs, not without commissions. More profit is found 

 in the supply of food for the birds : extras and petty 

 disbursements afford further room for pickings. 



1 hen, when the game has been spirited away, the 

 keeper's object is to induce his employer to purchase 

 full-grown pheasants — another chance of secret gra- 

 tuities—and to turn them out for the battue. That 

 institution is much approved of by keepers of this 

 character, for, the pheasants being confined to a small 

 area, there is less personal exertion than is involved 

 in walking over several thousand acres to look after 

 hares and partridges. 



By poisoning his master's mind against some one 

 he not only covers these proceedings but secures him- 

 self from the explanation which if listened to might 

 set matters right. The accused, attempting to ex- 

 plain, finds a strong prejudice against him, and turns 

 away in dudgeon. Such underhand tricks sometimes 

 cause mischief in a whole district. An unscrupulous 

 keeper may set people of all ranks at discord with 

 each other. 



In these malpractices, and in the disposal of game 

 which is bulky, he is occasionally assisted by other 

 keepers of congenial character engaged upon adjacent 



