MINE HOST AND FRIEND BALDWIN. 2O5 



So Jones became a game destroyer, or poacher, 

 and he and I met once more at night. He 

 brought five men with him on that occasion, 

 and I had two with me, so that when we joined 

 forces the gang numbered nine, all told. We 

 had a little bit of sport that night, as I will 

 relate further on. Jones, poor fellow, was one 

 of those keepers who say they can learn more 

 at a public-house in an hour than by stopping 

 at home for a week. 



I remember another keeper who used to say 

 the same thing, and whom I will call Baldwin. 

 I admit, friend Baldwin, that you may learn 

 something at a public-house ; the landlord is a 

 jolly good fellow, and a very great friend of the 

 keepers ; he puts the latter up to the poachers' 

 games a bit ; he tells you, now, that Tom- 

 Darvell had two hares for sale the other night, 

 in his house two out and outers they were, 

 regular nine-pounders, and snared, too, he 

 could tell that by the look of their eyes. Five 

 bob the two was what Tom asked for them. 



He told you all that, did he ? You say he 

 did ; very good ; but he forgot to tell you he 



