desire of destruction, but for a special purpose, that we turned our
attention to wiring. The punt, though much beloved, was, like all punts,
a very bad sailer. A boat with a keel that could tack, and so work into
the wind's eye, was our ambition.

The blacksmith Ikey readily purchased every rabbit we obtained at
sixpence each. Rabbits were not so dear then as now; but of course he
made a large profit even then. The same rabbits at present would be
worth fifteen or eighteen pence. Every sixpence was carefully saved, but
it was clear that a long time must elapse before the goal was attained.
The blacksmith started the idea of putting up a 'turnpike'--_i.e._ a
wire--but professed ignorance as to the method of setting it. That was a
piece of his cunning--that he might escape responsibility.

The shepherd, too, when obliquely questioned, shook his head, pursed his
lips, threw his pitching-bar over his shoulder, and marched off with a
mysterious hint that our friend Ikey would some day put his 'vut in it.'
It did not surprise us that the shepherd should turn his back on
anything of the kind; for he was a leading man among the 'Ranters,' and
frequently exhorted them in his cottage.

The carter's lad was about at the time, and for the moment we thought of
applying to him. He was standing on the threshold of the stable, under
the horseshoes and weasles' feet nailed up to keep the witches away,
teasing a bat that he had found under the tiles. But suddenly the dusky
thing bit him sharply, and he uttered an oath; while the creature,
released, flew aimlessly into the elms. It was better to avoid him.

Indoors, they would have put a very heavy hand upon the notion had they
known of it: so we had to rely solely upon the teaching of experiment.