42 
ARISTOCRATIC SPORTSMEN : 
without the dog and light ; it has a bullet attached to each 
of the four corners, and is carried by as many men, just 
clear of the bushes ; when the birds are disturbed by the 
feet of the poachers they begin to flutter, and then the net 
is dropped over them ; in this way a large space of good 
shooting ground is sometimes cleared in a single night. 
Let us give an instance : — Late one'fine September after- 
noon, as mine host of the Spotted Eetriever was standing at 
his door, smoking his pipe, and speculating on the proba- 
bilities of a good shooting season, there came bowling along 
the road, at a smartish pace, a tidyish looking dog-cart, 
drawn by a horse that could move, and in it were four 
persons whom Boniface at once concluded to be sporting 
gents, although he saw no guns, these being, as he supposed, 
stowed away beneath. Pulling up just as they reached the 
inn, the driver, in a very familiar and patronising tone, 
inquired if this was the village of Hookey-in-the-Hole, close 
by Ferny Manor. With a bob of his bullet-head, Joe 
Swiller answered that it was, and thereupon received a 
gracious command to call the ostler, and have the prad 
properly seen to, and the trap put under cover. The four 
gentlemen descended from the vehicle, and after them sprang 
into the road a lanky, wicked-looking dog, of no particular 
breed, but evidently well-trained and intelligent. Walking 
into the parlour, they ordered brandy-and- water and cigars, 
requested Joe to supply himself also with these creature- 
comforts at their expense, and favour them with his agree- 
able company. There was no pride about them, not a bit, 
although it was clear they were persons of distinction, for 
one was called by his companions Lord Harry, and another 
Sir James. They called Joe old fellow, clapped him on 
the back, inquired about his wife and family, especially 
about his grown-up daughters, with whom they hinted they 
should be happy to take tea, and were remarkably free and 
jolly. Joe had a variety of sporting anecdotes to tell them, 
for he had been in his younger and more sober days a 
remarkably good shot ; and there was not an inch of ground 
in Ferny Manor that he could not go over now blindfolded. 
Well, if ever a man was pumped thoroughly dry, Joe Swil- 
ler was, that memorable afternoon. His guests plied him 
