The Confessions of a 'Poacher. 155 



wife bathed my head and eyes, and then as- 

 sisted me to the bed from which they had just 

 risen. At noon I was able to take some bread 

 and milk, and at night, an hour after darkness 

 had fallen, I was able to start for home. 



Well, the sequel came in due time. We 

 each received a summons (my companion had 

 been released after identification), we were 

 tried in about a fortnight from the date of our 

 capture. There was a full bench of Magistrates ; 

 my companion pleaded guilty (with a view to a 

 lenient sentence) ; myself not guilty. In the 

 first instance the case was clear, but not one of 

 the three keepers (to their credit) would swear 

 to me. They looked me carefully over, par- 

 ticularly my assailant. He was reminded that 

 it was a fine, moonlight night. Yes, but his 

 man, he thought, was taller, was more strongly 

 built, and looked pale and haggard no, he 

 would not say that I was the man in short, he 

 thought I was not. Then came my innings. 

 The keeper had sworn that, after running a 

 mile, the poacher he chased had turned on him, 

 and threatened to " do for him," if he advanced ; 



