HOMEWARDS. 265 



or thirty in that state. The worst is, the disease is in- 

 fectious ; and when one tree has been treated so, it is 

 sure to spread to several others. I think I should shoot 

 a fellow if I caught him at it." 



" But what is their motive ?" 



" Malice, mischief, ill-will," he answered. " What 

 other motive could they have, as they gain nothing by 

 it ? And yet they want us to help them out with wood, 

 etc., and are mightily surprised and insolent if we say a 

 word. My trees used to be my great delight ; for as to 

 shooting the game, I don't care about that : it never cost 

 me an effort to see a stag or chamois and not to fire 

 at it." 



" And what is the price of venison ?" I asked. 



"Eight kreutzers a pound."* We are obliged to sell 

 it cheap, or we should not dispose of it at all. If we 

 asked more than the poachers, no one would take it, so 

 we are obliged to give it at the same price as they." 



Rather hard this, for another to be underselling you 

 with your own property ! 



" Have any been out lately ?" I asked. 



year a considerable sum to the peasants as indemnity for the damage 

 done to their crops by the game ; and according as the price of com rose 

 these sums were increased. As the money received was generally more 

 than adequate to the loss sustained, the peasantry were satisfied, and found 

 in the arrangement no cause of complaint ; when suddenly, in 1848, al- 

 though the preceding years the indemnity received by them had been 

 nearly doubled, they discovered that such a state of things could exist no 

 longer ; and thus, supreme authority ceding to popular will, a general 

 extermination of game took place throughout the land. Now however, 

 when too late, there is hardly one who does not regret the change, and 

 wish that "the good old times " would come again ; for to many a pea- 

 sant this indemnity was a source of revenue : — it was a part of his income 

 in fact, and, as such, entered into all his calculations. 



* One-third of a penny less than threepence. Nine kreutzers are 

 equal to threepence. 



