Posted by Ed Kiser on August 31, 2004 at 05:18:41 from 64.12.116.8 user Kisered.
In WH CH21
'Turned a seal off the deck. He was sitting there with his skates on, and John said he might scratch the deck. So we told him to go away, and he jolly well went.' 'Hm," said Captain Flint. "They always do say that poachers make the best gamekeepers."
In BS CH26
"What!" exclamined the fisherman. "Are you the toughs they were telling me about? Well, I'd trust you not to cast off the old Cachalot. Set a thief to catch a thief, eh? And poachers make the best gamekeepers..."
Sounds like some sort of fundamental saying is being quoted here about poachers being the best gamekeepers. Wonder where that "fact" originated from, that Ransome is quoting here. And I wonder if maybe King Richard felt that way about Robin Hood...
Thought that phrase sounded familiar, so had to run a check to see where "gamekeeper" was used, and found the above two references.
Maybe he is just quoting himself. He's allowed.
It does come in handy from time to time to be able to scan these chapters in a machine readable format. If anyone has a word they want scanned for, just let me know, and I'll be glad to return the results.
Meanwhile, getting ready to receive hurricane FRANCES that is currently aimed directly at south east Florida - right at ME! This one is going to be a very severe storm, so wish us luck. And it is to be here just in time for the LABOR DAY three day weekend. Welcome to South Florida. Oh, whoopie...
Ed Kiser, South Florida