132 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



was full swing at their bad work, with the ponies 

 an' carts close handy, when a whistle was blowed. 

 All at once the new mates collared 'em an' clapped 

 a pistol to the head o' each on 'em. Other men 

 rushed up from some hidin'-place, an' the handcuffs 

 was on 'em in a jiff, afore they knowed where they 

 was. 'Twas a rum lot o' game the carts took off 

 that night. They was missed but not wanted, and 

 nobody knowed whear they'd got to, till it leaked 

 out as they'd got 'em all right, an' meant a-keepin' 

 on 'em. 



" Noosepapers was scarce in those days, and 

 noose travelled slow. Precious few could read if 

 they'd got the papers; this was an out-o'-the- 

 way sort o' place, and is now, for that matter. 

 Anyhow, we knowed later on as all the gang got 

 transported fur that night's work, an' fur what 

 they'd done afore. Two on 'em, thinkin' to get off 

 light, split on t'others. None on 'em was ever sin 

 round here agin, an' fur the fust time fur many 

 years the foresters could sleep in peace. 



"Years has gone by since then, an' the families 

 as they left behind has growed up long ago, an' had 

 families o' their own. What's bred in the bone'll 



