tion>Richard Jefferies
The Amateur Poacher
Published by Good Press, 2019
EAN 4057664601834
Table of Contents
I. THE FIRST GUN
THE AMATEUR POACHER
THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS 'TURNPIKE'
TREE-SHOOTING: A FISHING EXPEDITION
WOODLAND TWILIGHT: TRAITORS ON THE GIBBET
OBY AND HIS SYSTEM: THE MOUCHER'S CALENDAR
CHURCHYARD PHEASANTS: BEFORE THE BENCH
LUKE, THE RABBIT CONTRACTOR: THE BROOK-PATH
FARMER WILLUM'S PLACE: SNIPE SHOOTING
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.
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.
