POACHERS AND POACHING. 57 



and beautiful collie for mother. No wonder the 

 progeny of these knew something. When I heard 

 that one of these same clever and handsome lurchers 

 had been wantonly shot, I felt as if a murder had 

 been committed. 



" I swore I'd shoot his lurcher if I got a chance," 

 said one good fellow I knew ; and the dog had been 

 a pill, and no mistake. " One day chance came, 

 and I covered her; but I didn't pull, I hadn't the 

 heart to do it. Her master was in the road, and 

 she was on my side, where I had hid up. I showed 

 myself with my double, but not for fear of me 

 did the man turn white. He was no cur, but he 

 trembled for his dog, for he was as fond of her 

 as if she had been his own child. " I could have 

 done it, Tommy," I said, "but you see I haven't, 

 she's had one more chance given her." 



" Thank ye, master, for not hurtin' her ; you won't 

 see us round your beat no more," and Tommy kept his 

 word. Things were better managed then, I think. 



One of the most arrant poachers I ever knew, 

 in order to save himself from utter ruin, joined a 

 Rifle regiment. He was the best shot in it ; and 

 more than that, he was prized highly, because he 



