is own property."

"I beg your pardon; the trees that that rod was made from were made for
us all, and if you, or any one for you, have thought proper to make it
into a rod, it is no more my fault than it is that I have been feeding
the fish with the supposition that they were my own. Everything being
common, and it being but natural that the strong should take advantage
of the weak, I must take that rod as my property, until I am
dispossessed by one more powerful. Moreover, being the stronger party,
and having possession of this land, which you say does not belong to me
more than to you--I also shall direct my keepers to see you off this
property. James, take the rod--see Mr Easy over the park palings. Mr
Easy, I wish you a good morning."

"Sir, I beg your pardon, you have not yet heard all my arguments,"
replied Jack, who did not approve of the conclusions drawn.

"I have no time to hear more, Mr Easy: I wish you a good morning." And
the proprietor departed, leaving Jack in company with the keepers.

"I'll trouble you for that rod, master," said William. James was very
busy stringing the fish through the gills upon a piece of osier.

"At all events you will hear reason," said Jack. "I have arguments--"

"I never heard no good arguments in favour of poaching," interrupted the
keeper.

"You're an insolent fellow," replied Jack. "It is by paying such
vagabonds as you that people are able to be guilty of injustice."

"It's by paying us that the land an't poached--and if there be some
excuse for a poor devil who is out of work, there be none for you, who
call yourself a gentleman."

"According to his 'count, as we be all equal, he be no more a gentleman
than we be."

"Silence, you blackguard, I shall not condescend to argue with such as
you: if I did I could prove that you are a set of base slaves, who have
just as much right to this property as your master or I have."

"As you have, I dare say, master."

"As I have, you scoundrel; this pond is as much my property, and so are
the fish in it, as they are of your master, who has usurped the right."

"I say, James, what do you say, shall we put the young gentleman in
possession of his property?" said William, winking to the other.

William took the hint; they seized Jack by the arms and legs, and soused
him into the pond. Jack arose after a deep submersion, and floundered
on shore blowing and spluttering. But in the meantime the keepers had
walked aw