234 BIRDS' NESTS. 



a person calling himself a gentleman, who had 

 bought an estate in the neighbourhood, and 

 adopted this infamous method of stocking it 

 with game. Johnson had often fallen in with 

 this man, and had been fixed on as a boy who 

 in time would become a very useful tool ; for 

 though he had never before been tempted 

 actually to steal eggs, he had only refused 

 from fear of being caught. The fear of doing 

 evil in the sight of God he had long lost sight 

 of. To cut the story short partly by taunts, 

 and partly by holding out a reward, the man 

 at last induced him to take him to this wood, 

 where Johnson in his birds'-nesting wander- 

 ings had found the pheasant's nest. The man 

 was to stay outside in the road, and Johnson, 

 if he brought out the eggs safe, was to have a 

 shilling for his trouble. He did bring them 

 out safe, and not only so, but caught the old 

 bird on her nest ; and, hardened by success, 

 proceeded to Mr. Miller's garden, where he 



