catchinCt my first poacher. 55 



I thou^^ht he was after pheasants' eggs, and 

 made ready to catch him, taking off my coat 

 and jacket, thus exposing my blue shirt sleeves. 

 Then I crept up to within a few yards of my man, 

 and, with a sudden spring, landed on his back, 

 catching hold of his collar. He was a big 

 strong man, and I thought I was in for a tough 

 job, but I never saw such a total collapse in my 

 life ; the moment he felt my weight on his back 

 he looked up at me, and then seemed to come 

 all over limp. Half dragging him along to my 

 gun, which I had left standing against a tree, I 

 fired, and gave the ' dead holloa ' : — Whoo 

 whoo whoop." Before we had turned out in the 

 morning, my father had given us orders that, 

 if either of us caught a poacher, he was to give 

 this cry. " And you. Jack," said he, turning to 

 me. " If you meet with anyone, fire your gun 

 off before giving the holloa." Then, turning 

 to the rest, he instructed them to run up to my 

 assistance, immediately they heard my gun and 

 call, throwing off their great ooats, and divest- 

 ing themselves of all impediments, for that 

 purpose. The report of my gun acted on the 



