36 The Amateur Poacher 



of-doors eye ; for the whiter fur of the belly as they 

 lay aside was barely distinguishable from the hoar 

 frost. The blacksmith Ikey sauntered down the lane 

 every evening, and glanced casually behind the ash 

 tree the northern side of whose trunk was clothed 

 with dark green velvet-like moss to see if a bag 

 was lying for him there among the nettles in the 

 ditch. The rabbits were put in the bag, which was 

 pushed through the hedge. 



