DUCKEY PHILLIPS. 26l 



loser by it I promise you." " Well, Phillips," 

 I replied. " If the magistrates don't ask the 

 question I won't name it, but if they do I must 

 answer ; for remember, I am sworn to tell the 

 truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the 

 truth. It would be just as wrong for me to 

 say that I did not find any snares on you, as 

 it would be if I swore that I found two hares 

 on you, when I did not." 



" Wilkins and Phillips," a policeman calls 

 out, and we marched into the magistrates' 

 room. I gave my evidence, and said nothing 

 about the seven snares, for I was only asked 

 about searching him for the rabbit and one 

 snare. Phillips told the Bench much the 

 same tale he had told me, about seeing the 

 rabbit kicking in the briars, and how he was 

 tempted to take it, thinking what a nice pie it 

 would make. "And wouldn't you have done 

 the same, gentlemen, in my place ; I hope, 

 gentlemen, you won't be hard on me ; I have 

 never been before a magistrate before, and, if 

 once I get out of this, you shall never see me 

 here again. This will be a caution to me 



