MINE HOST AND FRIEND BALDWIN. 205 



So Jones became a game destroyer, or poacher, 

 and he and I met once more at night. He 

 brought five men with him on that occasion, 

 and I had two with me, so that when we joined 

 forces the gang numbered nine, all told. We 

 had a little bit of sport that night, as I will 

 relate further on. Jones, poor fellow, was one 

 of those keepers who say they can learn more 

 at a public-house in an hour than by stopping 

 at home for a week. 



I remember another keeper who used to say 

 the same thing, and whom I will call Baldwin. 

 I admit, friend Baldwin, that you may learn 

 something at a public-house ; the landlord is a 

 jolly good fellow, and a very great friend of the 

 keepers ; he puts the latter up to the poachers' 

 games a bit ; he tells you, now, that Tom 

 Darvell had two hares for sale the other night, 

 in his house — two out and outers they were, 

 regular nine-pounders, and snared, too, he 

 could tell that by the look of their eyes. Five 

 bob the two was what Tom asked for them. 



He told you all that, did he? You say he 

 did ; very good ; but he forgot to tell you he 



