ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 43 



fields of the district. He has the various calls by 

 rote and instinct, and can lure, almost to his arm's- 

 reach, a harem of moor-hens. He is the pink and 

 paramount of poachers an apt and dead shot a 

 tasteful dog-breaker, sinewed like the hill-fox, with 

 somewhat also of its sneaking and cowardly dispo- 

 sitions. When challenged, he exhibits his gun in 

 such a manner as effectually to keep at bay the in- 

 dividual attempting to capture him. How he has 

 managed so long to escape the handcuffs, is to me 

 a matter of wonder ; for the villain would halt at 

 nothing, and has no more compunction or sensi- 

 bility than a tiger-cat. In fact, without allowing 

 an over-sufficiency of credit, I have reason to give 

 some faith to the report of certain sable delinquen- 

 cies, which, if committed by him, display in its true 

 colours the vindictive nature of the vagabond. 



Swivel. There is a prank in his pate at present, 

 or I much mistake. See you, he fords the water, 

 in order to join his vinegar- visaged companion. 

 That the twain are holding war-council, you may 

 divine from their gestures. Let us across also, and 

 increase our forces on the opposite bank. Two such 

 able-bodied scoundrels might drub the breath out 

 of them ere our column come into action. 



Leister. No fear. They will fight it stoutly; 

 and yet, to keep off mischief, we may as well be at 

 hand. Such vagabonds are in nowise particular 

 about their mode of attack, and will not hesitate to 

 use sturdier weapons than their mere fists. 



