Poachers and Poaching. 27 



poacher is always a mercenary wretch who invari- 

 ably sells his game ; he as frequently sends in a 

 brace of birds or a hare to a poor or sick neigh- 

 bour. He comes in contact with the law just 

 sufficient to make him know something of its 

 bearings. When charged with being in posses- 

 sion of "game," he reiterates the old argument 

 that rabbits are vermin. Being committed for 

 four months " for night poaching," he respect- 

 fully informs the presiding Justice that at the 

 time of his capture the sun had risen two hours, 

 and that the law does not allow more than half 

 the sentence just 1 passed upon him. The old 

 clerk fumbles for his horn spectacles, and, after 

 turning over Stone's Justices'* Manual solemnly 

 informs the Bench that defendant in his inter- 

 pretation is right. He remembers this little 

 episode and chuckles over it. There is another 

 which is equally marked in his memory. The 

 " Otter" poached long and successfully ere he 

 was caught, and then was driven into an ambus- 

 cade by a combination of keepers. Exultant at his 

 downfall, the men of gaiters flocked from every 

 estate in the country-side to witness his con- 

 viction. Some, who had only seen a vanishing 

 form in the darkness, attended to see the man. 

 This wild spirit of the night was always followed 

 by an old black bitch. She, too, was produced 

 in court, and was an object of much curiosity. 

 The " Otter " had been taken in the act, he told 



