The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Amateur Poacher, by Richard Jefferies

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Title: The Amateur Poacher

Author: Richard Jefferies

Release Date: October 12, 2004 [EBook #13730]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE AMATEUR POACHER

BY

RICHARD JEFFERIES

PREFACE

The following pages are arranged somewhat in the order of time,
beginning with the first gun, and attempts at shooting. Then come the
fields, the first hills, and woods explored, often without a gun, or any
thought of destruction: and next the poachers, and other odd characters
observed at their work. Perhaps the idea of shooting with a matchlock,
or wheel-lock, might, if put in practice, at least afford some little
novelty.

R.J.

CONTENTS

I. THE FIRST GUN

II. THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS 'TURNPIKE'

III. TREE-SHOOTING: A FISHING EXPEDITION

IV. EGG-TIME: A 'GIP'-TRAP

V. WOODLAND TWILIGHT: TRAITORS ON THE GIBBET

VI. LURCHER-LAND: 'THE PARK'

VII. OBY, AND HIS SYSTEM: THE MOUCHER'S CALENDAR

VIII. CHURCHYARD PHEASANTS: BEFORE THE BENCH

IX. LUKE, THE RABBIT-CONTRACTOR: THE BROOK PATH.

X. FARMER WILLUM'S PLACE: SNIPE-SHOOTING

XI. FERRETING: A RABBIT-HUNTER

XII. A WINTER NIGHT: OLD TRICKS: PHEASANT-STALKING: MATCHLOCK VERSUS
BREECH-LOADER: CONCLUSION

THE AMATEUR POACHER

CHAPTER I

THE FIRST GUN

They burned the old gun that used to stand in the dark corner up in the
garret, close to the stuffed fox that always grinned so fiercely.
Perhaps the reason why he seemed in such a ghastly rage was that he did
not come by his death fairly. Otherwise his pelt would not have been so
perfect. And why else was he put away up there out of sight?--and so
magnificent a brush as he had too. But there he stood, and mounted guard
over the old flintlock that was so powerful a magnet to us in those
days. Though to go up there alone was no slight trial of