12 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



the footpath under Monk's Wood, and there I 

 met the purchasers of the brass wire. They 

 shouted to me ; — 



" Hullo, young feller, where are you off to ? 

 We've lost our donkeys ; have you seen 'em 

 about anywhere ? " 



" Yes," said I. " I see some now." Which 

 was my idea of humour, in those days. 



Then they muttered together, and one of 

 them laughed. 



"Look here, youngster," said one man, 

 gruffly, *' We've lost our donkeys and our- 

 selves, too." 



I walked on rapidly for a few paces, and then, 

 turning round, shouted back at them : — " I 

 don't believe you're lost, or your donkeys, 

 either." And, thereupon, I dived round the 

 elbow of the wood into a road leading 

 out of the footpath amongst the trees, 

 thinking it quite time to give leg-bail. 



I had not proceeded far before a heav)^ hand 

 was laid on my shoulder ; I was about to cry 

 out when I heard a whisper: — " All right, 

 Jack," and turning, I confronted my father, 



