Part 3 (2/2)
”Quite so, Mahat very red in the face He held his hat in one hand and a large crooked stick in the other, and even the top of his head, on which no hair greas red, for he had been running
”What the deuce is the matter?” he puffed ”Oh! it is you, Giles, is it?
What are you doing, sir, looking like that, all covered with blood and mud? Has a poacher shot you, or what?”
”No, Squire,” answered Giles hu his hat ”I have shot a poacher, that's all, and it has given me what for,” and he lifted the body of the fox from the water
”A fox,” said Grampus, ”a fox! Do you mean to say, Giles, that you have dared to shoot a fox, and a vixen with a litter too? How often have I told you that, although I keep harriers and not fox-hounds, you are never to touch a fox You will get ive you a month's notice You will leave on this day month”
”Very well, Squire,” said Giles, ”I'll leave, and I hope you'll find some one to serve you better Meanwhile I didn't shoot the dratted fox
At least I only shot her after she'd gone and got herself into a trap which I had set for that there Rectory dog what you told ht never knohat become of it and cry andthat she was finished, with her leg half chewed off, I shot her, or rather I didn't shoot her as well as I should, for the beggar gave a twist as I fired, and now she's bit h the hand I only hopes you won't have to pay myfor it, Squire, under the Act, as foxes' bites is unco of rotten rabbit”
”Dear , ”dear me, the beast does seeo and be cauterised with a red-hot iron It is painful but the best thing to do Meanwhile, suck it, Giles, suck it! I daresay that will draw out the poison, and if it doesn't, thank my stars! I am insured Look here, a minute or two can make no difference, for if you are poisoned, you are poisoned Where can we put this brute? I wouldn't have it seen for ten pounds”
”There's an old pollard, Squire, about five yards away down near the fence, which is hollow and handy,” said Giles
”Quite so,” he answered, ”I knoell Do you bring the--dog, Giles
Re, not a fox”
Then they went to the pollard, and as Giles's hand was hurt the Red-faced Man clih Giles tried to prevent hiive , and I will drop it down Great Heavens! how this tree stinks Has there been an earth here?”
”Not as I knows of, Squire,” said Giles sullenly
Grampus stretched his hand down into the hollow of the pollard and dragged up a rotting fox by its tail
”Giles,” he said, ”you have been killingthem in this tree Giles, I disht, sir,” said Giles, ”I'll go, and I prays you'll find some one ill keep your hares which you must have, and your pheasants which you es which youthese varmints of foxes what eats the lot”
The Red-faced Man descended fro his nose and looked at Giles Giles sucked his bleeding hand and looked at him
”Foxes are very destructive animals,” said the Red-faced Man to Giles, ”especially when one shoots and keeps harriers”
”They are that, sir,” said Giles to the Red-faced Man, ”as only those knohat has to do with them”
”Put the other in, Giles,” said the Red-faced man, ”and when you have time, throw some soil on to the top of the lot This place smells horrible And look you here, Giles,” he added in a voice of thunder, ”if ever I find you killing a fox upon this property, you will be dismissed at once, as I have often told you before Do you understand?”
”Yes, Squire, I understand,” answered Giles, ”and I'll see to the burying of them this same afternoon, if the pain in my hand will suffer it”
”Very well,” said the Red-faced Man, ”that's done with--except the cubs
As you have killed the vixen you had better stink the cubs out of the earth I daresay they are old enough to look after themselves--at any rate I hope so And now, Giles, we es next week There are too ars as they are, seeing that I keep them for their sport”