POLICY AND PROTECTION 205 



popularity in the neighbourhood. He should be a 

 figure of importance, with a reputation for rigid disci- 

 pline but perfect fairness and good temper. Wherever 

 these qualities exist in such a man, his underlings 

 will be found to have been well selected, men some- 

 what after his own pattern ; and the petty class of 

 poaching, which though it may never seriously damage 

 the stock of game under his charge must yet be 

 firmly repressed, will be reduced almost to nil. 



The ' made ' or confirmed poacher rarely works 

 singly, and is or becomes a blackguard, a drunkard, 

 and as a general rule a coward. Against this class 

 of men it is the duty of your keepers to protect you. 

 This can only be done successfully where the latter 

 keep absolutely clear of the public-house influence, 

 while cultivating good terms with the farmers, the 

 rural police as well as those of the neighbouring 

 towns, and the respectable population generally. I 

 have already laid stress ' on the paramount import- 

 ance of the good relations between keepers and those 

 who pay rent for or cultivate the soil. The wood- 

 men, gardeners, hedgers and ditchers, carriers, and 

 others whose comings and goings bring them con- 

 stantly alongside or into the midst of the haunts of 

 game must also be enlisted on the right side. If 

 ' Vol. i. of this series, The Partridge. 



