human
A fine day, Mister Game-keeper, quoth Adam,
gpt
No one at present. The Squire expects a large party the beginning of the week.
human
Is there much game this season?
gpt
There _was_, I replied, rather fiercely.
human
But these rascally poachers are making it scarce. I only wish I had the ringleader of the gang within the range of this gun.
gpt
How savage you are, Cotton! A soft, easy name that for a hard, cruel fellow. Why not live and let live? What is it to you, if a poor fellow dines now and then off the leg of a hare, or the wing of a pheasant? It don't take one penny out of your pocket. What right have these rich men to lay an embargo upon the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air? Ay, upon the very fish that swims in the stream, which God gave for the use of all. Tyrants!--they have not enough of the good things of this world, but they must rob the poor of their natural rights. I only wish I had them under the range of that, which a poor man dare not carry without a licence, in a free land. But there will come a day, --and he ground his teeth,--
human
That will not be in your day--nor yet in mine, Adam Hows. No, not if we both lived to the age of your venerable namesake of apple-eating celebrity. Like him--you seem to have a hankering for forbidden fruit; and taste it too, I apprehend, if I may judge by that lurcher at your heels. You are wrong to keep that dog. It has a suspicious look.
gpt
I am not acquainted with his private tastes, said Adam, patting the snaky-headed brute.
human
Like his betters, he may relish a hare now and then; but I never saw him eat one. Fox, my boy! Are you fond of game?--the keeper thinks you are. Fie, fox, fie. It is as bad to look like a thief, as to be one.
gpt
You had better put that dog away, Adam. If the Squire sees him, he will order him to be shot.
human
D---- the Squire! Who cares for the Squire. He poaches on other preserves besides his own. Hey, Mister Cotton?
gpt
I don't understand your joke.
human
Oh, no, of course not. You are such an innocent fellow. But there are others who do. Are you going to the cricket-match to-morrow? The fellows of S---- have challenged our fellows to a grand set-to on their common: 'tis famous ground. The men of S---- play well--but our bullies can beat them. I am told that you are the flash man of the F---- club?
gpt
I love the sport--it is a fine manly, old English game; I should like to go very well, and they expect me; but I have an engagement elsewhere.
human
You'll have to put it off.
gpt
Impossible.
human
But the honour of the club.
gpt
Must yield to duty. I promised to meet Mr. Carlos at the second avenue gate to-morrow night, at eleven o'clock.
human
D----, has he turned thief-taker? Does he mean to catch the poachers himself? Well, if that is not a queer dodge for a gentleman.
gpt
He would not be a bad hand, said I laughing;
human
No, no. The coach puts him down there on his return from I----, and I promised to see him safe home.
gpt
Safe home! Why, man, 'tis only a mile from the hall. Is he afraid of ghosts?
human
Not at all, I said, dropping my voice.
gpt
No one who knows Squire Carlos, could ever take him for a coward. But there are a great many suspicious characters in the neighbourhood, and the Squire returns with a large sum of money on his person. He was afraid that he might be robbed in that lonely place, and he asked me, as a particular favour, to meet him there with my gun.
human
A large sum of money did you say? and the poacher drew nearer and gazed upon me with an eager and excited stare.
gpt
Does he often travel abroad with such sums about him?
human
Not often. This is a particular case--it is the price of the farm he sold lately, Crawford's farm, and he wants the money to make another purchase. Perhaps he will have with him a couple of thousand pounds.
gpt
You don't say--and you are to meet him at the second avenue gate at eleven o'clock?
human
So I promised. But don't, there's a good fellow, mention it to any one. I would not for the world be thought to blab my master's secrets. He would never forgive me, if it came to his ears. To tell you the truth, I don't much like the job. I would rather have a jolly day with the club at S----. I am sure we should win the match.
gpt
I thought the coach came in at ten?
human
Not on market-nights. It is always late. Eleven was the hour he appointed.
gpt
Oh, of course, he knows best. And such a large sum of money! I would not venture on the road with twenty shiners in my pocket. But two thousand! The man's a fool. Good day, Noah--don't raise a bad report against my poor dog. You know the old proverb--'Give a dog a bad name.' Two thousand pounds--my eye, what a sum!
human
Go your ways to Bill Martin, said I.
gpt
Tell him the tale I have told to you, and between us, Mr. Carlos has small chance of sleeping on a feather-bed to-morrow night.
human
I would bet my life that neither of us go to the cricket-match to-morrow at S----. Bill will have a different job on hand. It will be the ball and not the bat, that is to win the game they hope to play.