THE HILL POACHER 



AN English poacher is generally to be found among the 

 very dregs of the people a hardened unscrupulous 

 blackguard, who would shoot the gamekeeper with 

 greater pleasure than he would a pheasant, who fears 

 nothing but detection, and whose conscience would never 

 sting him till on his death-bed. Scotch poachers are a 

 different class of men. To be thieves, drunkards, and, if 

 need be, murderers, is not a necessary part of their calling. 

 And, although they are in general not the most reputable 

 part of society, yet many, especially in the Highlands, 

 stand pretty fair with their neighbours. The cause of 

 this difference is easily traced. In England the ground 

 is far more easily preserved, and the keepers much better 

 trained ; therefore no man need attempt the destruction 

 of game, unless he is prepared to run all risks of a deadly 

 skirmish with the watchers. Indeed there would be few 

 poachers in England, were it not for the great abundance 

 of what may be termed tame game. But the temptations 

 to netting, snaring, ginning pheasants at perch, or 



