148 The Confessions of a ^Poacher. 



covered with hoar frost, he was drenched in 

 blood, and the poor fellow's pale face showed 

 me that of the keeper. He was held fast in a 

 man-trap which had terribly lacerated his 

 lower limbs. He was conscious, but quite 

 exhausted. Although in great agony he suf- 

 fered me to carry him to a neighbouring hay- 

 rick, from whence we removed him to his 

 cottage. He recovered slowly, and the man- 

 trap which he had set the night before was, I 

 believe, the last ever used in that district. 



