266 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 



became public property in the village and the neigh- 

 bourhood, and from that day forward there has been 

 no safer place for a hare than this man's meadow. 



The gamekeeper often picks up hints about poachers 

 in unexpected ways. His wife, as a rule, takes no 



great interest in the affairs of game ; yet 

 The Sins every now and again she is able to tell her 

 Father husband some news that may be at once bad 



and good. It happened that the wife of a 

 highly respected gardener fell ill, and one afternoon 

 the keeper's wife kindly offered to take charge of her 

 children. The eldest child, a boy of about six, seemed 

 to have little to say for himself ; but, as the party 

 was walking silently along a lane, he suddenly said 

 in a voice that promised well to be a bass some day : 

 '' Our muver, she do make we some good dinners." 

 " Indeed," said the keeper's wife, " and what does she 

 give you for dinner ? " The boy answered eagerly 

 and proudly : " Bunny rabbits, m'm." " Indeed," 

 said the keeper's wife again, " and where does mother 

 get the bunny rabbits ? " " Please, m'm, faither 

 buys 'em off a man as brings 'em." " Oh ! in-deed ! " 

 said the keeper's wife, and it was not long before one 

 more receiver of stolen rabbits was brought to justice. 



When the oaks shed their leaves night has a new 

 danger for the roosting pheasants. They become 



