226 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



see a great prize ; put him in a bag, and bury 

 him with all honours. That gang of poachers 

 is broken up for the season, for it is a hundred 

 to one that they cannot get another dog, and, 

 if they do, it won't be another " Bob," but 

 some animal of very little use to them. 



Where keepers are bound to risk everything 

 to get rid of certain poaching dogs, and so 

 break up gangs of poachers, this dodge always 

 answers well, but it is a dangerous game to 

 play, and I don't like it as much as the alarm 

 gun, because, with the best intentions of doing 

 your duty and giving every satisfaction to your 

 master, you may bring discredit upon both 

 yourself and him. For instance, suppose a fox 

 comes through the gate and picks up one of 

 your doses ; he is found dead in the ditch or 

 fallow field, and you are blamed for it. This 

 makes it very unpleasant for you and your 

 master. Of course, if there is no hunting, and 

 no hounds are kept in that part of the couutry, 

 it is the best dodge out to stop gate netting ; 

 but, still, I like the alarm gun better. 



I make my own alarm guns, and can set 



