CHAPTER XIV. 



DUCKEY's father. HIS DEATH. 



TOM BITMEAD found a lot of snares set 

 in Ladymead's hedge one day, so he 

 and I set to work to watch them, he at one 

 end and I at the other, my end of the hedge 

 being very wide and thick. 



Presently, up comes old Phillips (Duckey's 

 father) and looked at the snares I was watching ; 

 he did not touch them and passed on, and 

 then Tom Bitmead arrived, and said : — " He's 

 taken up my snares, has he touched yours ? " 

 " No," said I, " He merely parted the hedge 

 and looked at mine." " Well, he's taken mine 



