2 1 2 The Gamekeeper at Home. 



motions are known, and his prying eyes defeated. 

 As for the tenants, they groan and bear it. 



It is to be regretted that now and then the rural 

 policeman becomes an accomplice in these nefarious 

 practices. His position of necessity brings him much 

 into contact with the keepers of the district within his 

 charge. If they are a ' shady ' lot, what with plenty 

 of drink, good fellowship, presents of game, and 

 insidious suggestions of profit, it is not surprising that 

 a man whose pay is not the most liberal should 

 gradually fall away from the path of duty. The 

 keeper can place a great temptation in his way — i.e. 

 occasional participation in shooting when certain 

 persons are absent : there are few indeed who can 

 resist the opportunity of enjoying sport. The rural 

 constable often has a beat of very wide area, thinly 

 populated : it is difficult to tell where he may be ; he 

 has a reasonable pretext for being about at all hours, 

 and it is impossible that he should be under much 

 supervision. Perhaps he may have a taste for dogs, 

 and breed them for sale, if not openly, on the sly. 

 Now the keeper can try these animals, or even break 

 them in in a friendly way; and when once he has 

 committed himself, and winked at what is going on, 

 the constable feels that he may as well join and share 

 altogether. At outlying wayside ' publics ' the keeper 



