eps hard upon a dozen on 'em and
shifts 'em about in the likeliest holes; and I takes care to let
the men as is about the water meadows see me a-sharpening on 'em
up a bit wi' a file, now and again. And since master gev me
orders to put 'em in, I don't think they tries that game on not
once a month."

"Well but where do you and your master expect to go to if you set
such things as those about?" said Tom, looking serious. "Why,
you'll be cutting some fellow's hand or foot half off one of
these days. Suppose I'd waded up the bank to see what had become
of my cast?"

"Lor', sir, I never thought o' that," said the keeper, looking
sheepish and lifting the back of his short hat off his head to
make room for a scratch; "but," added he turning the subject, "if
you wants to keep they artful wosbirds off the water, you must
frighten 'em wi' summat out o' the way. Drattle 'em, I knows they
puts me to my wit's end; but you'd never 'a had five such fish as
them afore breakfast, sir, if we didn't stake the waters."

"Well, and I don't want 'em if I can't get 'em without. I'll tell
you what it is, keeper, this razor business is going a bit too
far; men ain't to be maimed for liking a bit of sport. You set
spring-guns in the woods, and you know what that came to. Why
don't you, or one of your watchers, stop out here at night, and
catch the fellows, like men?

"Why, you see, sir, master don't allow me but one watcher and
he's mortal feared o' the water, he be, specially o' nights. He'd
sooner by half stop up in the woods. Daddy Collins (that's an old
woman as lives on the heath, sir, and a bad sort she be, too)
well, she told him once, when he wouldn't gee her some baccy as
he'd got, and she'd a mind to, as he'd fall twice into the water
for once as he'd get out; and th' poor chap ever since can't
think but what he'll be drownded. And there's queer sights and
sounds by the river o' nights, too, I 'ool say, sir, let alone
the white mist, as makes everything look unket, and gives a chap
the rheumatics."

"Well, but _you_ ain't afraid of ghosts and rheumatism?"

"No, I don't know as I be, sir. But then there's the pheasants
a-breedin', and there's four brood of flappers in the withey bed,
and a sight of young hares in the spinneys. I be hard put to to
mind it all."

"I daresay you are," said Tom, putting on his coat and
shouldering his rod; "I've a good mind to take a turn at it
myself, to help you, if you'll only drop those ra