1 86 The Amateur Poacher. 



there was not a point that did not receive its share 

 of admiration. We shot about half a dozen rabbits, 

 two more hares, and a woodpigeon afterwards ; but 

 all these were nothing compared with the woodcock. 



How Farmer ' Willum ' chuckled over it especi- 

 ally to think that we had cut out the game from 

 the very batteries of the enemy ! It was the one 

 speck of bitterness in the old man's character his 

 hatred of this keeper. Disabled himself by age and 

 rheumatism from walking far, he heard daily reports 

 from his men of this fellow coming over the boundary 

 to shoot, or drive pheasant or partridge away. It 

 was a sight to see Farmer ' Willum ' stretch his bulky 

 length in his old armchair, right before the middle 

 of the great fire of logs on the hearth, twiddling his 

 huge thumbs, and every now and then indulging in a 

 hearty laugh, followed by a sip at the ' straight-cup.' 



There was a stag's horn over the staircase : ' Wil- 

 lum ' loved to tell how it came there. One severe 

 winter long since, the deer in the forest many miles 

 away broke cover, forced by hunger, and came into 

 the rickyards and even the gardens. Most of them 

 were got back, but one or two wandered beyond 

 trace. Those who had guns were naturally on the 

 look-out ; indeed, a regular hunt was got up 

 ' Willum,' then young and active, in it of course. This 



