I  was  just  patting  my  dog  and  examin-
ing the  prize,  when  I  heard  a  crackling
among  the  low  bushes  near  me  :  and  on
looking  up,  perceived,  about  twenty  paces
distant,  a  short  thick-set  num.  whose  fus-
tian jacket  and  leathern  gaiters  at  once
pronounced  him  the  gamekeeper  ;  fie  steed
leaning  upon  his  gun,  quietly  awaiting,  as
it  seemed,  for  any  movement  on  my  part,
before  he  interfered.      With  one  gla:


14


CHARLES  LEVER'S  WORKS.
detected  how  matters  stood,  and  immedi-
ately adopting  my  usual  policy  of  "  taking
the  bull  l>\  the  horns,"  called  out,  in  a
tone  of  very  sufficieni  authority, —

"I  say,  my  man,  are  you  his  lordship's
gamekeeper  '? "

Taking  off  his  hat,  the  man  approached
me,  and  very  respect  fully  informed  me
that  he  was.
"Well,  then,"  said  I,  "present  tins
hare  to  his  lordship  with  my  respects  ;
here  is  my  card,  and  say  I  shall  be  most
happy  to  wait  on  him  in  the  morning  and
explain  the  circumstance."

The  man  took  the  card,  and  seemed  for
some  moments  undecided  how  to  act ;  he
seemed  to  think  that  probably  he  might  be
ill-treating  a  friend  of-  his  lordship's  if  he
refused  ;  and  on  the  other  hand  might  be
merely  "jockeyed"  by  some  bold-faced
poacher.  Meanwhile  1  whistled  my  dog-
close  up,  and  humming  an  air,  with  great
appearance  of  indifference  stepped  out
homeward.  By  this  piece  of  presence  of
mind  I  saved  poor  "  Mouche  ;  "  for  I  saw
at  a  glance  that,  with  true  gamekeeper's
law,  he  had  been  destined  to  death  the
moment  he  had  committed  the  offense.
