406 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



"All right, Wilkins," he replied. "I'll 

 bring you a ferret you won't choke off in a 

 hurry." 



He brought his ferret, and put it on to a 

 rabbit. " Now," said he. " You won't choke 

 him off, I know." 



" I'll bet you a pound of that," said I. 

 " And my head, and a big bit of my neck, 

 into the bargain." 



" Well, let's see you for satisfaction's sake," 

 he replied, drawing in his horns somewhat. 



So I showed them, and they were all quite 

 satisfied with the result. The ferret had fast 

 hold of the rabbit, so I took them both up in 

 my hands, and, seizing the ferret's foot in my 

 mouth, bit it sharply. In a moment the ferret 

 let go, dropping the rabbit at once, and squall- 

 ing loudly. This may appear to some to be 

 a ticklish process, but if it is done without 

 fear, and not in a half-hearted way, the ferret 

 will not bite you ; bite quickly and sharply, 

 and no ferret can stand it. If anyone doubts 

 my veracity I am ready to accept a challenge, 

 that I will make any ferret loose his hold in 



