CONCERNING DICK, ETC. 95 



overcome the innumerable difficulties that arise 

 in the course of his career. It is no child's 

 play, I can tell you, for a thousand and one 

 things occur that call forth all the talent and 

 resource that a man possesses, in order to deal 

 with them successfully. 



For instance — a keeper has to rear ground 

 game and flying game, a very difficult job, in 

 which he has everything against him almost, 

 and only the ordinary course of nature to assist 

 him. The condition of the elements, flying 

 vermin, ground vermin, and, lastly, man in the 

 poacher shape, are all against him. During 

 the rearing season the keeper never has any 

 leisure at all, his hours are all the time; there are 

 no definite rules which can be laid down for his 

 guidance, and he can only fall back on his own 

 common sense and tact. But to return to 

 Dick. 



He had just one round, like clockwork ; he 

 would go once through Beech Wood and then 

 that would be done for the day, and he would 

 not go near it again until the next day at 

 precisely the same time. From Beech Wood 



