PHEASANTS FROM SHELL TO SHOT 341 



coverts better stocked with game, easier of access, and yet at 

 the same time less annoyed by poachers than ours. 



As I have before remarked, for all four or two-footed vermin 

 my motto is " Traps ! traps ! traps ! " And before leaving that 

 evening we were more than ever convinced that throughout 

 the whole countryside a more artful old cuss, and a more faith- 

 ful, honest servant than Mr John Balls was not to be found. 



This is how he went to work: He was not a great 

 reader, nevertheless, he knew the ins and outs of the Game 

 Laws, at least, whenever he did get a conviction the evidence 

 was undeniable and the sentence heavy. It was rarely 

 he " pulled a man," as he expressed it, for day poaching. 

 " What's a quid to a chap ? No, give him a lay-in job and 

 sureties to find when he comes out, if you beak him at all." 



A mysterious man to some was Mr Balls ; indeed, if an un- 

 fortunate patronised his acres he was freely allowed to do so 

 at first, until, confidence gained, his nice little practices were 

 suddenly nipped in the bud by being taken red-handed past 

 the first hour after sunset, and more probably together with 

 several companions. 



But Mr Balls derived no satisfaction from the law ; he pre- 

 ferred to meet his foes on even terms, and if he could best a 

 poacher he'd chuckle to himself over it for the remainder of 

 the season. When Mr Balls first came to that part of the 

 country, and before his reputation had gone forth, his beats 

 were particularly favoured by the mouching fraternity, and 

 as egging time drew round so assuredly did they. One in- 

 stance in particular showed his cleverness. It was as follows : 

 He had somehow obtained an inkling that his whole place 

 would be visited at a certain time and he acted accordingly. 

 Every man living near to the nesting-grounds that he knew 

 was privately warned by him, and an old gun or pistol sup- 

 plied to each for emergency. The eventful morn soon arrived ; 

 when the worthy Mr Balls was as usual jaunting up a green 

 lane about daylight, he met a portion of the gang. He stopped 

 and discussed the weather and matters of interest generally, 

 but did not forget to fire his gun thrice in succession ; within 



