would be much less; walking under an oak-tree he soon
discovered the round black masses which the bodies of the roosting
pheasants presented between him and the sky, and raising his piece, he
fired; a heavy bound on the earth near his feet followed the discharge;
Joey then slipped forward and put the pheasant into his bag; another and
another shot, and every shot brought an increase to Joey's load.
Seventeen were already in it when Mum gave a low growl. This was the
signal for people being near. Rushbrook snapped his finger; the dog
came forward to his side, and stood motionless, with ears and tail
erect. In a minute's time was heard the rustling of branches as the
party forced their way through the underwood. Rushbrook stood still,
waiting the signal from Mum, for the dog had been taught, if the parties
advancing had another dog with them, always to raise his fore-feet up to
Rushbrook's knees, but not otherwise; Mum made no such sign, and then
Rushbrook lay down in the brushwood, his motions being closely followed
by his son and his dog.

Voices in whispers were now heard, and the forms of two men with guns
were to be seen not four yards from where they were lying.

"Somewhere about here, I'll swear," said one.

"Yes, I think so; but it may be further on--the wind has brought down
the sound."

"Very true, let's follow them, and they may fall back upon the
spring-gun."

The parties then advanced into the cover, and were soon out of sight;
after a time Rushbrook held his ear to the wind, and, satisfied that all
was safe, moved homewards, and arrived without further adventure, having
relieved Joey of the heavy sack as soon as they were in the open fields.

At three o'clock in the morning, he tapped at the back door of the
cottage. Jane opened it, and the spoils of the night having been put
away in a secret place, they were all soon in bed and fast asleep.

CHAPTER THREE.

TRAIN A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO, AND HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT.

It is an old saying, that "if there were no receivers there would be no
thieves," and it would have been of very little use for Rushbrook to
take the game if he had not had the means of disposing of it. In this
point, Byres, the pedlar, was a valuable accessory. Byres was a radical
knave, who did not admire hard work. At first he took up the profession
of bricklayer's labourer, one that is of a nature only affording
occasional work and moderate wages. He did t