314 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



to shoot, to-morrow ; besides, I have got you 

 a lodging, so you can take yourself off into the 

 house and get what you like to eat and drink, 

 and I will see you afterwards. And do you go 

 too, Humphries." 



Next morning I arrived at the house at ten 

 o'clock, according to orders, and there I met 

 Watts, the head keeper, who had been with 

 Mr. Fowle and his father for more than thirty 

 years. There were also a lot of gentlemen 

 and brushers, and off we started. When we 

 arrived at the covers. Watts and the brushers 

 turned in, and I was turning in after them, bu^ 

 Mr. Fowle called me. 



" Oh, you come here, Wilkins," said he. 

 " Keep by my side and don't leave me all day, 

 except to pick up a rabbit or two I may shoot ; 

 I want to have a long talk with you." Then 

 he asked me a great many questions about the 

 Major, and lastly he began to talk about 

 Humphries. " Do you think I can trust that 

 fellow to kill the rabbits, Wilkins ? Will he 

 not kill my foxes as well ? " he said. 



"I never knew him injure a fox, sir," said L 



