122 The Amateur Poacher. 



they did it when they was tight, and so I got off. 

 They said as 'twas I that put the poison for the 

 hounds when three on 'em took it and died while the 

 hunt was on. It were the dalledest lie ! I wouldn't 

 hurt a dog not for nothing. The keeper hisself put that 

 poison, I knows, 'cause he couldn't bear the pack com- 

 ing to upset the pheasants. Yes, they been down upon 

 I a main bit, but I means to bide. All the farmers 

 knows as I never touched no lamb, nor even pulled 

 a turmot, and they never couldn't get no witnesses. 



' After a bit I catched the keeper hisself and the 

 policeman at it; and there be another as knows it, 

 and who do you think that be ? It be the man in 

 town as got the licence to sell game as haves most of 

 my hares : the keeper selled he a lot as the money 

 never got to my lard's pocket and the steward never 

 knowed of. Look at that now ! So now he shuts 

 his eye and axes me to drink, and give me the ferret- 

 ing job in Longlands Mound ; but, Lord bless 'ee, I 

 bean't so soft as he thinks for. 



' They used to try and get me to fight the keeper 

 when they did catch me with a wire, but I knowed 

 as hitting is transporting, and just put my hands in 

 my pockets and let 'em do as they liked. They knows 

 I bean't afraid of 'em in the road ; I've threshed more 

 than one of 'em, but I ain't going to jump into that 



