214 The Amateur Poacher. 



the snow on the ground and in the holes, the flakes 

 drifting against his face and never once show im- 

 patience. All he disliked was wind not on account 

 of discomfort, but because the creaking of the 

 branches and the howling of the blast made such a 

 noise that it was impossible to tell where the rabbit 

 would bolt. 



He congratulated himself that evening because he 

 had recovered all his ferrets. Sometimes one will lie 

 in and defy all efforts to bring it out. One plan is to 

 place a dead fresh rabbit at the mouth of the hole 

 which may tempt the ferret to come and seize it. In 

 large woods there are generally one or more ferrets 

 wandering loose in the season, that have escaped from 

 the keepers or poachers. 



If the keeper sees one he tries to catch it, failing 

 that he puts a charge of shot into it. Some keepers 

 think nothing of shooting their own ferrets if they 

 will not come when called by the chirrup with the 

 lips, or displease them in other ways. They do not 

 care because they can have as many as they like. 

 Little John made pets of his : they obeyed him very 

 well as a rule. 



Poaching men are sometimes charged with 'steal- 

 ing ferrets, i.e. with picking up and carrying off those 



