Woodland Twilight. 83 



rowlocks those in the punt are listening to the echoes : 

 most likely they have been fishing for tench in the 

 deep holes under the black shadow of the aspens. 

 (Tench feed in the dark : if you wish to take a big 

 one wait till it is necessary to fix a piece of white 

 paper on the float.) Now put the empty cartridge 

 in your pocket instead of throwing it aside ; pull 

 the hare's neck across your knee, and hurry off. But 

 you may safely stay to harle him ; for those very 

 echoes that have been heard a mile round about are 

 the best safeguard : not one man in a thousand could 

 tell the true direction whence the sound of the ex- 

 plosion originated. 



The pleasure of wandering in a wood was so great 

 that it could never be resisted, and did not solely arise 

 from the instinct of shooting. Many expeditions were 

 made without a gun, or any implement of destruction, 

 simply to enjoy the trees and thickets. There was one 

 large wood very carefully preserved, and so situate in 

 an open country as not to be easily entered. But a little 

 observation showed that the keeper had a 'habit.' He 

 used to come out across the wheatfields to a small 

 wayside 'public,' and his route passed by a lonely 

 barn and rickyard. One warm summer day I saw 

 him come as usual to the ' public,' and while he was 

 there quietly slipped as far as the barn and hid in it. 



