CHAPTER V. 



WHAT WAS IT ^ 



TI) ICHARD Lovering, whom I have often 

 ■*-^ mentioned before, was variously known 

 as "Old Dick," "the Black Man of the Woods," 

 "Wild Man of the Woods" and " the Black 

 Devil." One evening, between six and seven 

 o'clock, he came and told my father that the 

 ride which parted Beech Wood from Owlett's 

 Wood was set with snares for hares. 



" Well Dick," said my father, " We must be 

 there by nine or ten to-night, or else we shall 



