'Oh, it's you, is it, Master Ralph?' he shouted. 'I declare I never can tell what prank you will be up to next. You do frighten a man most out of his wits.'
'And what about me?' Ralph retorted. 'I have had about as much of a scare as I want. It was hard-enough work getting up, without seeing the ugly muzzle of a gun pointed at me. And a jolly good thing I did see it, or you might have been had up for manslaughter.'
'Well, I like that!' muttered the game-keeper. 'I wonder who is about his proper business—that daring young scamp, or a harmless man like myself?'
But he knew from experience he did not often get the better of Ralph in a war of words.
'As you are up there, sir,' he called, 'you might take all the eggs, and then I need not waste my shot.'
'Right you are!' was the answer; but Ralph found there were seven, and he thought of Marjorie's injunctions.
'I will leave a couple,' he decided, and even then he hardly saw how he could get the others safely down. Two could be carried in his mouth in the orthodox fashion, and the other three must take their chance in his pocket; not much of a chance though, considering the scramble before him.
However, he was soon on the ground beside the keeper, displaying his treasures.
'A good set too,' he said, 'from rusty red to one almost white. But you did give me a turn with that old gun.'
'I'm sure, sir, I am thankful enough I didn't fire it off, but I should have been doing no more than my duty, and that's more than you can say, seeing that this wood is strictly preserved.'