THE POACHERS. 249 



bushes, there seems to me, to be a many runs over the ling-beds up 

 to yon clump of dark-trees.'* 



" I'll try it," answered Woodcock, and began to fasten the scares, 

 to the openings formed by game between the stems of broom-bushes 

 placing an oyster shell as a mark at every spring. Mike was busy 

 planting his along a line of stunted wild-sloes, which formed a barrier 

 to that corner of the scroggs. Smith stood behind an old black- 

 thorn holding in the dogs, until all was ready for them to run and 

 drive the game into the springs. All around us was still as death, 

 save when the peculiar cry of some hare which was already 

 strangled broke the silence. 



" See," said the stranger, " what are those blacks objects moving 

 round yon wood corner ?" 



" One, two, three, four, five, six, seven men," said I; "now they are 

 skulking along the shadow of the wood-side ; they will not approach 

 until they have ascertained our numbers." 



" Do you think," said he, " our companions will submit quietly to 

 be captured ? " 



" No ; I am afraid not. Mike Anderson is a match for two ordi- 

 nary men ; Woodcock is as brave as a lion : unless we hang back, 

 there will be war." 



Woodcock now came up, with three hares in his hand, which had 

 been strangled during the time of his setting the first and last snare; 

 he threw them down at my feet, and having aided Mike with planting 

 the opposite runs with springs, the signal was given, and away flew 

 the dogs, leaping over the bushes which they could not penetrate. 



We were all stationed in the front of the springs, driving the 

 affrighted game back as the dogs drove them forward, thereby com- 

 pelling them to pass the lines where the snares were planted several 

 times. The dogs never once barked, so well had they imbibed John 

 Woodcock's cudgel lessons. The cries of death were now heard on 

 every hand, while the broom-bushes shook as the entangled animals 

 tugged at their wiry prisons, only making themselves more secure : 

 one fine fellow bounced past me with the snare round his neck, which 

 jingled again as he neared the shadowy wood. 



As I stood beside the stranger, I could perceive our foes skulking 

 behind the bushes, and approaching nearer at every opportunity, 

 when they considered our party most busied with the game. 



" They'll be upon us soon," said the stranger, who was on the alert; 

 " we had better hurry the dogs in and secure the hares." 



He had scarcely spoken when a sharp shrill whistle summoned the 

 faithful animals, and in a few seconds they were at Woodcock's side, 

 and again committed to the care of Smith. I then followed Mike, 

 taking the hares as he unloosed them from the springs. The stranger 

 did the same for Woodcock ; we were now joined by Smith, who 

 came up bringing the three hares which were caught, " before their 

 time," as Mike termed it, and made the total number fifteen. 



" Now, my lads," said Woodcock, " let's have a pipe ; I wouldn't 

 wish for better luck than this, although one night we catched twenty- 

 two." 



As we stood in a small compass, with the dusky red light from 



M. M. No. 99. 2 K 



