246 THE POACHERS. 



we have a pint or two of ale together. Then th' old chap says, 

 * Jacky ! Jacky ! thou's been a sad rogue to our hares., I'm afear'ct 

 thou'll be catch'd again before long ; it's a long while now since thee 

 saw th' inside of Southwell, but there's never a pitcher goes to th' 

 well but wot it gets broken at last.' But he's a good old chap. I 

 hav'nt seen him here these last five weeks." 



" Have you got the snares with you ?" said I to Woodcock. 



" Yes," answered he, pulling off his hat and producing a mass of 

 spring wires ; t( you never find Jack without his tools." 



At the sight of the snares, two tall greyhounds, the constant atten- 

 dants of Mike and Woodcock, commenced chasing each other up and 

 down the street, as if they were breathing themselves for the chace. 



" Hey !" said Jack, eyeing them with pride, " they know what's 

 up when they see these bits of brass wire. Squire Sanderson comes 

 up to me yesterday, ' John,' says he, ' will you sell that dog ?' c No, 

 sir/ said I, ' I can't spare him.' ' Why, John/ said he, ' what use 

 can you have for him ?' ' None, sir,' says I, ' only he's fond of my 

 company. I did sell him once for five pounds to a gentleman as 

 came out of Yorshire, but he got away from him somehow and came 

 back again in three days.' ' Oh, then/ said he, ' it's no use me buying 

 him / and off he walked. No, I'll never sell him, I would sooner 

 sell the coat off my back." 



" That," said I, " is too ragged, no one would buy it." 



"Yes, and you would be ragged too," he retorted, "if you'd 

 crept through as many briars and hedges as it has." 



" Come," said Mike, " if we are to go, let's be off; we can talk 

 and walk !" 



" Stay !" exclaimed a voice from above, " stay, and I'll go with 

 you ; that is if you have no objection/' 



" None," was the universal answer ; for we all recognized the 

 stranger, who was a general favourite at the tavern ; not one of us 

 knew his name ; he had been there about a week ; kept a beautiful 

 blood horse, and a servant man. He was only known there by the 

 title of the young gentleman, which his actions truly merited. I was 

 the only one of our party with whom he was acquainted, having con- 

 versed with him several times in the bar, and once been with him on 

 a shooting excursion. He had succeeded in borrowing the ostler's 

 Sunday smock-frock, and away we went, the dogs jumping, run- 

 ning and gamboling before us. 



" Are we not going to Corringham Scroggs ?" said the stranger. 



" Yes," answered I ; " but I am ignorant as to what part. I sup- 

 pose we must submit to Woodcock's guidance, who appears to be the 

 leader." 



" I wish you would ask him what quarter he intends leading us 

 to/' said the stranger. 



" Certainly," I answered. " Here, Woodcock, what part of the 

 scroggs do you think of visiting to night?" 



" I have just been asking myself a few questions about that/' 

 answered he ; " last time I was there I tried Foxglove dingles ; time 

 before that Crabtree valley ; and on Sunday night " 



