Ian Niall; " The Gamekeeper "

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Anyone remember the bit where that character who was notably good at throwing stones caught up with the young George Henry Watkin, 'Keepers Lad, and terrorised him one night? He insists that George Henry shall return the next night and have another audience with him.

 

Only the Beat Keeper who George is working under notices there's something deeply bothering the lad when he sends him out to lock the birds up for the night. So, as the poacher steps out of the shadows to have another pop at George Henry, he's dropped like a sack of shit by a sharp blow across the skull from the Gamekeepers stick.

 

Nothing wrong in that. They certainly thought so at the time the book is set. A century or more ago. Find a grown man issuing clear threats of grevious violence, as a means of coercian, against a young lad? Knock his f*cking head off. Then call the Constable to have him slung in prison.

 

All changed now, as ye know. And people wonder where it all went wrong?