i62 The Amateur Poacher 



were rapidly transferred to the shoulder-sticks, or the 

 bag itself bodily taken along — why, there was nobody 

 there to see. As for the young man and the boy who 

 helped, those discreet persons had always a rabbit for 

 their own pot, or even for a friend ; and indeed it was 

 often reraarked that old Luke could always get plenty 

 of men to work for him. No one ever hinted at 

 searching the dirty shed at the side of his cottage that 

 was always locked by day, or looking inside the disused 

 oven that it covered. But if fur or feathers had been 

 found there, was not he the contractor ? And clearly 

 if a pheasant was there he could not be held re- 

 sponsible for the unauthorised acts of his assistants. 



The truth was that Luke was the most thorough- 

 paced poacher in the place — or, rather, he was a 

 wholesale receiver. His success lay in making it 

 pleasant for everybody all round. It was pleasant for 

 the keeper, who could always dispose of a few hares or 

 pheasants if he wanted a little money. The keeper, 

 in ways known to himself, made it pleasant for the 

 bailiff. It was equally pleasant for the under-keepcrs, 

 who had what they wanted (in reason), and enjoyed a 

 little by-play on their own account. It was pleasant 

 for his men ; and it was pleasant — specially pleasant— 

 at a little wayside inn kept by Luke's nephew, and, as 

 was believed, with Luke's money. Everybody con- 



