358 The Poacher. 



knocked senseless into the ditch by a blow on the back of the head 

 from the butt-end of a gun-stock. It was but the work of a few 

 seconds ; but even in those few seconds he had time before the blow 

 fell to recognise the brutal features of Hammerton. The attack 

 had been all planned beforehand. The poachers watched Johnson 

 down to the feast, and knew about what time he would come back. 

 Hammerton lay hidden, and the other poacher fired the double 

 shot when he saw Johnson ride up the lane, to draw him down to 

 Hammerton's hiding-place. The stratagem succeeded well ; and, 

 but for the special interference of Providence, murder would most 

 assuredly have been added to the "bead-roll" of Hammerton's 

 iniquities. But, as good luck would have it, three farm labourers, 

 on their way to the village feast, came over the hedge at the end of 

 the spinny at the very moment, or the keeper never would have 

 lived to tell the tale - f for Hammerton was standing over him with 

 his gun raised to give him the coup de grace, when a sharp excla- 

 mation from the man in the wood caused him to turn round, and he 

 saw the three labourers getting over the fence not fifty yards from 

 him. The second blow fell harmless. He dashed at once through 

 the hedge into the spinny, and made his escape with his comrade on 

 the other side of it. The labourers, had, however, seen him, but 

 no one dared to follow him, and they turned their attention to the 

 apparently lifeless keeper. The youngest and most active of the 

 three galloped down to the village on the keeper's pony, to tell the 

 news j, the other two carried the body up to the road -, and in less 

 than half-an-hour Johnson's brother drove up in a tax-cart, and 

 took him to his lodge. Although his skull was dreadfully fractured, 

 he was not dead j but brain fever set in, and for weeks his life 

 hung upon a thread. A strong constitution, however, pulled him 

 through ; and, although he never was the same man again, he still 

 kept his place as head keeper, but under strict injunctions that he 

 never again went out to watch at night. 



It was not likely that such a desperate attack in broad daylight 

 should pass unnoticed. A hundred pounds reward was now offered 

 by Johnson's master for Hammerton's apprehension 5 and, as a good 



