It would also have been nearly impossible to carry the hare so many miles by daylight and past villages: even with the largest pockets it would have been doubtful, for the hare had stiffened as he lay stretched out.

So, carefully replacing him just as we found him, we left the spot and re-entered the copse.
The shepherd certainly was right; the quantity of nuts was immense: the best and largest bunches grew at the edge of the thickets, perhaps because they received more air and light than the bushes within that were surrounded by boughs.

It thus happened that we were in the green pathway when some one suddenly spoke from behind, and, turning, there was a man in a velveteen jacket who had just stepped out of the bushes.
The keeper was pleasant enough and readily allowed us to handle his gun--a very good weapon, though a little thin at the muzzle--for a man likes to see his gun admired.

He said there were finer nuts in a valley he pointed out, and then carefully instructed us how to get back into the waggon track without returning by the same path.

An old barn was the landmark; and, with a request from him not to break the bushes, he left us.
Down in the wooded vale we paused.