But that, as Helen remarked, was saying one word for the rabbits and two for himself; for the lane bordered the land belonging to an old gentleman, named Grey, who had lately come to live there, and from a gate at the top of the hill a glimpse could be caught of the river, where, too, a lovely pair of swans might be seen.  Jim took a great interest in these swans, and longed to get down to the water so as to be close to them.  But the gamekeeper was a surly fellow, and if he saw the children lingering near he would tell them that his master "couldn't abear boys nor girls either," and always was most severe if any people were caught trespassing on his land.  Thus Jim had never dared to climb the gate.  But Jumbo this morning was to give him an excuse for so doing.  When they reached it, the children paused to gaze down at the river, which there broadened out into a sort of lake, with a grassy islet in the centre.  The six rabbits paused also.