172 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



whenever they applied for them ; and when game of any kind 

 was shot on their land, a certain portion was always left for 

 them, so that they became interested in its preservation. 

 Neither were the poor forgotten. If any man wanted a hare as 

 a present, he was never refused, or a couple of rabbits for him- 

 self In covert shooting men were employed instead of dogs 

 for beaters. At the close of the day the rabbits were laid out, 

 and each man received according to his family, with a shilling 

 also for his day's work. In my shooting and coursing expe- 

 ditions, during the dead months, I was never without attend- 

 ants ; though not invited ; they knew they were not unwelcome, 

 and all shared in my good or bad luck. Such a course ensured 

 me plenty of friends, and all were interested in the game. I 

 can only say I had more, very much more, than I ever could 

 make use of, with all these recipients to boot. Independent of 

 my own land, adjoining occupiers would allow no one to tres- 

 pass upon their holdings. Their general answer to any marau- 

 ders was, that the game belonged to the squire, and no one else 

 should have it. Poachers, therefore, had little chance with so 

 many keepers. 



In my father's time there was a notorious poacher in an ad- 

 joining parish, not our own, who would occasionally make a 

 swoop upon the hares at night, and, not satisfied with his 

 exploits, boasted of them as well. He had been overheard to 

 say, he should have some hares out of a certain field, not far 

 from the house, as soon as the corn was cut ; and have them he 

 would, notwithstanding all the squire might do to the contrary, 

 and that " they called him master." This information was given 

 to the governor, who merely replied, " Oh, very well — we shall 

 see who is master, perhaps, one of these days." On the night 

 the corn was cut, my father went out with his gun, about ten 

 o'clock, and, as there was a row of trees running at right angles 

 up to the gate of the field, which was surrounded also by a high 

 wall, he could approach the spot without being seen — it being a 

 dark night also. Standing behind one of the trees, he quietly 

 awaited the approach of Mr. Jim, who soon came, and set his 

 net at the gate, whilst his companion went to the other side of 

 the field with the dog to drive the hares into it. For a few 

 minutes all was still, Jim being stationed behind the gate-post, 

 when down came a hare, rushing into the net. Jim was down 

 upon his hands and knees in a minute upon the hare, exclaim- 

 ing, " Squaak, squaak, is it, my dear? 'Tis no use your crying 

 out, for the squire can't hear you, and you calls me master now." 

 " Wait a bit," says the governor to himself; " I shall put in a 

 word or two presently, my boy." So he takes a few steps back- 



