THE BAFFLED POACHER 



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young gentleman who was his guest at the time, and 

 my neighbour's bailiff, sturdy Joe Witts, comprised 

 the reconnoitring party. Joe had the reputation of 

 being as proficient with a knife and fork as the Fat 

 Boy in " Pickwick," and as far as sturdy strength went 

 he did credit to his keep. The party of three pro- 

 ceeded to the Down named by their informant, and 

 distributed themselves in ambush. About four 

 o'clock in the morning the expected poacher put in 

 an appearance, and, after carefully "surveying the 

 country round," and apparently satisfying himself 

 that he was alone in the landscape, he proceeded 

 leisurely to his wires and found that he had been 

 successful in securing two hares. These he carefully 

 removed, and dropped into two capacious pockets 

 provided for the purpose of receiving everything 

 that came to hand from wire or net. Having 

 evidently completed the job to his satisfaction, he 

 was turning on his heels to depart, when, to his 

 consternation, he beheld three men rise, as it were, 

 from the earth. He immediately made strong 

 running, and, having got the best of the start, led for 

 some distance ; but, encumbered as he was by the 

 weight of his spoil, it was not a fair handicap. 

 Weight told, as it always will, and he was eventually 

 secured. Mr. Wentworth thereupon ordered the 

 man to walk with them to the police station. This 

 the poacher flatly refused to do. If they wanted to 

 take him there they must carry him. Inasmuch as 

 the nearest police station was some three miles 

 distant, that alternative was out of the question. 



