96 HIS AMBUSCADES. CHAP. vi. 



town's people. He went with a gun! Surely he 

 couldn't be a poacher or a burglar ? That was impos- 

 sible. It was well known that he lived soberly and 

 honestly, denying himself many things, and never 

 repining at his lot, though living a life of hardship. 

 But what could he mean by wandering about at 

 night amongst wild, lonely, and ghost-haunted places? 

 They wouldn't have slept in Boyndie churchyard for 

 worlds ! And yet that was one of Edward's favourite 

 spots ! 



He went out in fine starlit nights, in moonlight 

 nights, and in cold and drizzling nights. Weather 

 never daunted him. When it rained, he would look 

 out for a hole in a bank, and thrust himself into it, 

 feet foremost. He kept his head and his gun out, 

 watching and waiting for any casualties that might 

 happen. He knew of two such holes, both in sand- 

 banks and both in woods, which he occasionally fre- 

 quented. They were foxes' or badgers' dens. If any 

 of these gentry were inside when he took up his posi- 

 tion, they did not venture to disturb him. If they 

 were out they did the same, except on one occa- 

 sion, when a badger endeavoured to dislodge him, 

 showing his teeth. He was obliged to shoot it. He 

 could often have shot deers and hares, which came 

 close up to where he was ; but they were forbidden 

 animals, and he resisted the temptation. He shot 

 owls and polecats from his ambuscades. Numbers of 

 moths came dancing about him, and many of these 



