346 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



yards of us, and then said : — " Is this the 

 way to Stanstead, please, I've got lost ?" 



"Yes," said I. "You know Durrell's, 

 there," pointing to the wood behind me. 

 " But come here a minute, Monk." 



He recognized me and came up. " This is 

 Mr. Maitland, my master," said I. " If you 

 want to speak to me Mr. Maitland will be 

 gone in a few minutes, and then I'll hearyou." 



" Did you want Wilkins, Monk ? " interposed 

 Mr. Maitland. 



" Yes, sir, just a few words." 



" I hope you will not come to be any more 

 trouble to Wilkins," said Mr. Maitland. 



" No, that I never will, sir," replied Monk. 

 " I'll never shoot any more of his pheasants." 



" What !" said Mr. Maitland, laughing. 

 " Did Wilkins' sham pheasants give you a 

 sickener the first time." At this we all three, 

 master, keeper, and poacher, laughed heartily. 

 It is by no means a bad plan to laugh heartily 

 at the jokes of your employers, it gives them 

 a high opinion of your intelligence. 



" Good morning. Monk," said Mr. Maitland, 



