432 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



their arms in, and searching every hole in the 

 bank. Here one of the magistrates asked him 

 if there were many rabbit-holes in that bank. 



''Yes, sir," said he, "A great many." 



'' How long were they at the bank ? " 



" Ten or fifteen minutes, sir." 



"And are there many large earths or, 

 properly speaking, burrows in the bank ? " 



" Yes, sir, one earth reaches forty or fifty 

 yards, and is full of holes." 



"And these men stopped at every hole, and 

 put their arms into each of them ? " 



" Yes, sir." 



" In ten or fifteen minutes ? " 



"Yes, sir." 



The magistrate turned to me. " Wilkins," 

 said he, " you know this bank I suppose ? " 



" Yes, sir," said I. 



" Well, how long would it take you to put 

 your hand up all the rabbit burrows in that 

 bank ? " 



"A good half a day, I think, sir." 



" Yet, according to Humphries, these men 

 did it in ten or fifteen minutes ! " And the 



