358 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



poacher has feehngs the same as you have, 

 and remember, above all, that a time is coming 

 when you will be called upon to render up 

 your account to God, for calling Him to 

 witness a lie from your lips. Can you wonder 

 that such a keeper gets shot, w^henever the 

 poacher gets the chance of shooting him ? 

 The only wonder is that more are not shot, 

 and this is a very solemn thing to be con- 

 sidered by all keepers. I will now give you 

 one instance that came under my immediate 

 notice, of a keeper's harsh conduct towards 

 poachers, and its result. 



I once knew three gamekeepers who lived 

 on the Manor adjoining where I lived, most 

 resolute men and good keepers they were, and 

 the head keeper was also a very fast runner. 

 These three were out in the woods, night 

 watching, when they heard the report of guns; 

 they made for the spot from whence the sound 

 came, and happened upon some poachers. 

 The poachers scuttled, and the keepers went 

 after them as hard as they could pelt. The 

 head keeper, being the fastest runner, soon 



