146 'The Confessions of a 'Poacher. 



Being committed for two months for " night 

 poaching," we respectfully informed the pre- 

 siding Justice that, at the time of our capture, 

 the sun had risen an hour ; and further, that 

 the law did not allow more than half the sen- 

 tence just passed upon us. Our magistrate 

 friend to whom I have more than once re- 

 ferred was on the bench, and he told his 

 brother Justices that he thought there was 

 something in the contention. The old Clerk 

 looked crabbed as he fumbled for his horn 

 spectacles, and, after turning over a book 

 called " Stone's Justices' Manual," he solemnly 

 informed the bench that defendants in their 

 interpretation were right. We naturally re- 

 member this little incident, and as the law has 

 had the whip hand of us upon so many oc- 

 casions, chuckle over it. 



We invariably made friends with the stone- 

 breakers by the road-sides, and just as in- 

 variably carried about us stone-breakers' 

 hammers, and " preserves " for the eyes. 

 When hard pressed, and if unknown to the 

 pursuing keeper, nothing is easier than to dis- 



