The Confessions of a 'Poacher. 157 



Here is the record of another encounter. 

 There was a certain wood, the timber in which 

 had been felled and carted. It had previously 

 contained a good deal of " coppice," and after 

 the wood-cutters had done their work, this 

 had been utilized by the charcoal burners. 

 The ashes from the charcoal had promoted 

 quite an unseasonable growth, and everywhere 

 about the stoles of the ash roots and hazel 

 snags, fresh green grass and clover were 

 springing. The hares on the neighbouring 

 estate had found out this, and came nightly 

 to the clearing to feed. As there were neither 

 gaps nor gates we found it impossible to 

 net them, and so had to resort to another 

 device. Before the wood had been cleared 

 rabbits had swarmed in it, and these had found 

 ingress and egress through " smoots " in the 

 stone fences. Upon examination we found that 

 the larger of these were regularly used by our 

 quarry, and, as we could not net them, we 

 determined to plant a purse net at every smoot, 

 drive the wood with fast dogs, and so bag our 

 game. When everything was ready the lurchers 



