The Confessions of a Toachei. 87 



lather, and I thought it best to lead her on 

 to where I knew was a chestnut tree, and 

 there wait for a lull in the storm. As I stood 

 waiting, a black lurcher slunk along under the 

 sodden hedge, and seeing the trap, immediately 

 stopped and turned in its tracks. Having warned 

 its master, the two reconnoitered and then 

 came on together. The " Otter" (for it was 

 he), bade a gruff " good-night " to the en- 

 shrouded vehicle and passed on into the 

 darkness. He slouched rapidly under the 

 rain, and went in the direction of extensive 

 woods and coverts. Hundreds of pheasants 

 had taken to the tall trees, and, from beneath, 

 were visible against the sky. Hares abounded 

 on the fallows, and rabbits swarmed every- 

 where. The storm had driven the keepers to 

 their cosy hearths, and the prospect was a 

 poacher's paradise. Just what occurred next 

 can only be surmised. Doubtless the " Otter" 

 worked long and earnestly through that terrible 

 night, and at dawn staggered from the ground 

 under a heavy load. 



