BAIERISCH ZELL. 215 



himself; but he thought for certain it was they. He 

 had gone round, on purpose to get quite close up to 

 them before seizing them. Well, directly he saw the 

 man level his rifle at him, there was nothing left him, 

 unprepared as he was, but to spring behind a tree 

 which was close by. Just as he did so the poacher 

 fired. Joseph gave a turn, but he thought the ball 

 had hit the stock of his gun, which he still had at 

 his back, and it was that which caused the shock he 

 felt ; and he was going to lay hold of his rifle, in readi- 

 ness lest one of the fellows should approach, when he 

 found he could not move his arm. It hung down 

 quite helpless like a dead thing, and then only he 

 discovered that he had been shot. At the moment 

 he had not felt it at all. Turning to Bauer he said, 

 1 My God, Bauer, they have hit me ! ' Both stood be- 

 hind the tree for awhile, but Joseph naturally could 

 do nothing with his shattered arm. At last he said 

 to Bauer that the pain was so great he could not bear 

 it any longer, and that come what might he must go. 

 The others heard all he said, for you know they were 

 quite close, behind another tree at most seven yards 

 off". Bauer told him to go, and he would watch the 

 others ; and if one of them moved forward to fire, he 

 would let fly at him the same moment. Joseph went 

 off, and they did not attempt to shoot at him. As he 

 went along he ate a mouthful of gunpowder, and got 

 safe home at last/' 



" And what did Bauer do afterwards?" 



" He kept where he was behind the tree, with his 



