MORE POACHERS AND POACHING. 33/ 



went up towards the guns, whilst I and the 

 other two kept guard down under the wood, 

 spreading ourselves apart so as to partly sur- 

 round it. I was close to the footpath — a 

 right of way — and, as it led two or three 

 different ways into the wood, we thought 

 to catch the shooters as they came out, they 

 being pretty sure to make for the path. 



Joslin got up pretty close to where the flash 

 of the gun had been seen, and concealed 

 himself in a hazel stub, when he heard some 

 one say: — "Here sits another." To which 

 a voice replied: — "Yes, but I think we had 

 better be off, the keepers will be here directly." 

 Thereupon three men appeared, and advanced 

 straight on to the stub where Joslin was lying. 

 They stumbled over him, and he jumped up, 

 and seized one man by the collar ; the other 

 two began to run away, but the man whom 

 JosHn held shouted: — "Don't run away and 

 leave me, lads, there's only one of them." 

 Then one of them came back and told Joslin 

 to " leave go," at the same time striking him 

 on the elbow with the butt of a gun. Joslin 



