CHAPTER VI 

THE THORN HEDGE 

Mist drifted about the hollows and the new moon shone between the motionless light clouds. The air was damp and Jim buttoned his driving-coat as he talked to Bernard on the steps at Dryholm. His small car stood near the arch, with its lights glistening on the dewy lawn. 

"Your lamps are dim," said Bernard. "If you will wait a minute, I'll send them to the garage." 

Jim said he knew the road and the lamps would burn until he got home; and Bernard resumed: "I expect you know that what you are doing at the marsh won't make you popular." 

"Lance Mordaunt hinted something like that, but I don't see why people should grumble," Jim replied. "The marsh is mine." 

"Your title's good," Bernard agreed. "Since the ground is not enclosed, Joseph didn't bother about sporting rights and your neighbors took it for granted they could shoot a few ducks and snipe when they liked. The sport's rough for men who shoot hand-reared pheasants, but there's some satisfaction in killing birds that are really wild." 

"There is some satisfaction. The game I've shot was certainly wild; in fact, I sometimes took steep chances when I missed. When you get after a bull moose or a cinnamon bear it's prudent to hold straight. Well, I'd sooner my neighbors liked me, but don't mean to keep my land waste for them to play on." 

Bernard nodded. "You are not afraid of unpopularity? However, I think I'd have got rid of Shanks, instead of sending him to Bank-end. The fellow's cunning and there's some ground for believing him revengeful." 

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. Who was talking to one another?
2. Where were they?
3. Where was the light coming from?
4. Were his car lights on?
5. Were they bright?
6. According to whom?
7. Did he wwant to get them looked at?
8. Did Jim accept the offer?
9. Why not?
10. Who is shooting difficult for?
11. Who would make him unpopular?
12. Who agreed with Bernard about this?

Numbered answers:
1. Jim and Bernard
2. on the steps at Dryholm
3. the new moon
4. yes
5. no
6. Bernard.
7. yes
8. no
9. e knew the road and they would last until he got home
10. men shooting hand-reared pheasant
11. Shanks
12. jim