1 1 6 The Amateur Poacher 



duced a couple of cock pheasants from under his coat f 

 the tail feathers much crumpled, but otherwise in fine 

 condition. These he placed on the table, remarking, 

 * I ain't forgot as you drawed I out of the raud thuck 

 night.' I made him understand that such presents 

 were too embarrassing ; but he seemed anxious to do 

 ' summat,' so I asked him to find me a few ferns and 

 rare plants. 



This he did from time to time ; and thus a species 

 of acquaintanceship grew up, and I learned all about 

 him. He was always called ' Oby ' (i.e. Obadiah), and 

 was the most determined poacher of a neighbouring 

 district a notorious fighting man hardened against 

 shame, an Ishmaelite openly contemning authority and 

 yet not insensible to kindness. I give his history in 

 his own language softening only the pronunciation, 

 that would otherwise be unintelligible. 



' I lives with my granny in Thorney-lane : it be 

 outside the village. My mother be married agen, you 

 see, to the smith : her have got a cottage as belongs 

 to her. My brother have got a van and travels the 

 country ; and sometimes I and my wife goes with 

 him. I larned to set up a wire when I went to plough 

 when I were a boy, but never took to it regular till 

 I went a-navigating [navvying] and seed what a spree 

 it were. 



