276 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 



keeper will suffer loss in game, and the shepherd not 

 only in sheep, but in rabbits. With rabbits to spare, 



the keeper's first thought is of his friend 

 Friends ^ e shepherd. The shepherd is vigilant by 



night as well as by day, and may watch the 

 interests of game without detriment to his own charge. 

 And it is a pleasure to the keeper to run his eye over 

 the fold when he passes that way to see if all is well. 

 He comes to the rescue of many a sheep on its back 

 that would have remained on its back until dead 

 without his timely aid ; and he saves the shepherd 

 many possible disasters through the flock breaking 

 from the fold, when the sheep might come to destruc- 

 tion by over-feeding on greenstuff s. Through the long 

 nights of the lambing-time the keeper may give the 

 shepherd his company over pipes of fragrant shag, 

 and pots of heart-cheering ale hands, hearts, and 

 ale alike made warm by the little stove in the shep- 

 herd's movable house on wheels. Look well at a 

 shepherd's back, and you are likely to see a keeper's 

 old coat. 



Shepherds like their pot of beer and some of them 

 are wondrously fond of a fight, and so may become 

 useful allies to the keeper when poachers are to be 

 dealt with. We knew a shepherd who would always 

 be especially retained to help the keepers of an estate 

 at times when pheasants were liable to be shot at 

 night. His appointment came about in this way: 





