230 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



his hand and touched them. They came on to 

 my gate and stopped close by me, when I 

 recognised Jones's voice, as he said to his 

 mates: — "You know where the other two 

 gates are, so go and set them while I'm doing 

 this one." The other two then went off into 

 the next field, and Jones remained and set his 

 net between me and Joslin. 



After a few minutes, I heard some dogs in 

 full cry in the field, and the men laughing 

 heartily at the sport ; then I heard two hares 

 cry out, one in each of the other two gates to 

 which Jones's mate had gone. Thereupon I 

 came out of my hiding place and stepped up 

 to Jones, who was wearing a broad-brimmed felt 

 hat, tied down like a gipsy's bonnet, and also a 

 large cow-dealer's smock gown. I laid my hand 

 on his shoulder, and he hung down his head. 



'* Is it you, Jones ? " said I, " I am sorry to 

 see you here; you are the last man that ought 

 to come to trouble me. I know that you are 

 out of a job, and have a large family to keep, 

 but if you had come to me I would have given 

 you something to help you along." 



