squeal, then, ever so loud, and the louder he squeals, the harder
you must rub."

"But it hurts him."

"Oh, not much. What's a hedgehog that he isn't to be hurt a bit! Boys
get hurt pretty tidy here when the Doctor's cross. Well, as soon as he
squeals out, all the hedgehogs who hear him come running to see what's
the matter, and you get as many as you like, and put 'em in a hutch, but
you mustn't keep live things here, only on the sly. I had so many, the
Doctor put a stop to all the boys keeping things, rabbits, and white
mice, and all. That's why I stuff."

"What is?"

"Because you can keep frogs, and jays, and polecats, and snakes, and
anything, and they don't want to be fed."

"What a nice cottage!" I said suddenly, as we came upon a red-brick,
red-tiled place, nearly all over ivy.

"Yes, that's Polly Hopley's--and hi! there goes old Hopley."

A man in a closely fitting cap and brown velveteen jacket, who was going
down the road, faced round, took a gun from off his shoulder and placed
it under his arm.

He was a big, burly, black-whiskered man, with brown face and dark eyes,
and he showed his white teeth as he came slowly to meet us.

"Well, Master Mercer?" he said. "Why ain't you joggryfing?"

"Whole holiday. New boy. This is him. Burr junior, this is Bob
Hopley, General's keeper. Chuck your cap up in the air, and he'll make
it full of shot-holes. He never misses."

"Oh yes, I do," said the keeper, shaking his head; "and don't you do as
he says. Charge of powder and shot's too good to be wasted."

"Oh, all right. I say, got anything for me?"

"No, not yet. I did knock over a hawk, but I cut his head off."

"What for? With your knife?"

"No-o-o! Shot. You shall have the next. Don't want a howl, I s'pose?"

"Yes, yes, a white one. Do shoot one for me, there's a good chap."

"Well, p'raps I may. I know where there's a nest."

"Do you? Oh, where?" cried Mercer. "I want to see one, so does he--
this chap here."

"Well, it's in the pigeon-cote up agen Dawson's oast-house, only he
won't have 'em touched."

"What a shame!"

"Says they kills the young rats and mice. Like to go and see it?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm going round by Rigg's Spinney, and I'll meet you at the farm
gates. Jem Roff'll let you go up if I ask him."

"How long will you be?"

"Hour! Don't forget!"

"Just as if we should!" cried Mercer, as the keeper shouldered his gun
again and marched off. "It's r