"Shoot the lot, Sir, if I had the chance. I would, O by Jove; that is, if I had dust shot in the gun--a set of rogues, rascals, scamps, tramps, vagabonds, and robbers. Don't tell me about pheasants and partridges and hares being wild birds--there don't laugh; of course, I know a hare isn't a bird--why, they're nothing of the sort, and if it wasn't for preserving, there wouldn't be one left in a few years. Try a little more of that bread sauce. Fine pair of tender young cocks, ain't they? Well, sir, they cost me seven-and-sixpence a bird at the very least, and I suppose I could buy them at seven-and-sixpence a brace at the outside. Game preserving's dear work, sir; but there, don't think I want to spoil your dinner. I aint reckoning up the cost of your mouthfuls, but fighting upon principle. How should you like me to come into your yard, or field, or garden, and shoot or suffocate or wire your turkeys or peafowl?" "But, my dear, sir," I said, "I don't keep turkeys or peafowl." "Or cocks or hens, or pigeons, or ducks," continued my uncle, not noticing my remark. "But we don't keep anything of the kind in London, my dear sir; the tiles and leads are the unpreserved grounds of the sparrows." "Don't be a fool, Dick," said my uncle, pettishly. "You know well enough what I mean. And I maintain, sir," he continued, growing very red-faced and protuberant, as to his eyes, "that every poacher is a down-right robber, and if I were a magistrate I--" "Wouldn't shoot them; would you, sir?" said Jenny, roguishly. "Hold your tongue, you puss," said my uncle, shaking his fist playfully at the bright, saucy-eyed maiden; "you're as bad as Dick." Oh, how ardently I wished she was in one particular point of view. My uncle continued. "Ever since I've been in the place, the scoundrels have gone on thin--thin--thin--till it's enough to make one give up in despair. But I won't; hang me if I do! I won't be beaten by the hypocritical canting dogs. Now, look here; one hound whines out that he did it for hunger, but it won't do, that's a tale; while 'fore George, sir, if a man really was driven to that pitch, I'd give him the worth of a dozen of my birds sooner than have them stolen." Well, really, one could not help condoling with the old gentleman, for he was generous and open-handed to an extent that made me wonder sometimes how my portion would fare, and whether the noble old fellow might not break faith through inability to perform his promises. Ever since he had settled in Hareby, and worked hard to get his estate into condition, the poaching fraternity seemed to have made a dead set at him, leading his two keepers a sad life, for one of them had passed two months in hospital through an encounter; while one fellow, who was always suspected of being at the head of the gang, generally contrived to elude capture, being "as cunning as Lucifer, sir," as my uncle said.