420 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



out to see them, and admired them greatly. 



"A very nice assortment, Humphries," said 

 she. " Where did you get them from ? " 



" Mr. Lane's, at Berkhampstead," replied he, 

 readily. How he would have got on if the 

 lady had asked to look at the bill, I can't say. 



The man, Jack, was soon afterwards sent to 

 Aylesbury for trial, on a charge of stealing hay 

 from^the Stockyard to feed his donkey with. 

 Why Humphries acted like that towards his 

 accomplice in the plant theft I can't say, it 

 seems to me that he must have forgotten the 

 old adage that when rogues fall out the honest 

 man gets his own ; anyhow, for reasons best 

 known to himself, Humphries sent off his old 

 pal, Jack, to Aylesbury, to take his trial for 

 theft. 



This Jack had a daughter, who w^as either 

 going to service or coming home for a holiday, 

 I forget which ; and, in order to take her and 

 her box, he borrowed a donkey and cart from 

 a neighbour. Now village donkeys are not 

 over-well fed, and, before starting for the 

 railway station, Jack was fooHsh enough to 



