GAME. 113 



Ruminating on the accident, our harm- 

 less escape, and the ready assistance we 

 had received, it struck me that I had 

 neglected to reward the good people 

 who had so promptly and so efficiently 

 put forth their exertions in my behoof; 

 but in going to unload the hind-boot, 

 1 found that I need be under no un- 

 easiness on that score, as, anticipating 

 my forgetfulness in the hurry of depar- 

 ture, they had rewarded themselves with 

 two or three baskets of game that I had 

 taken up at Liphook, deeming pheasants 

 and hares a greater treat to them, than 

 to the people to whom they were ad- 

 dressed, or their friend, the owner of 

 Holly combe; and even for this I had to 

 be thankful, for had they made choice 

 of one or two of the ladies' trunks for 

 a reward, I should have had much more 

 trouble in restoring them, or finding an 



VOL. II. I 



