CATCHING MY FIRS1 POACHER. 6 1 



tree by his heels," so I heard them say. 



Whenever I shot one of their dogs I would 

 take my gun and " shin " up a tree, and they 

 used to come and prowl about under it, but 

 never thought of looking up into it. The intel- 

 lectual development of navvies, I may remark, is 

 scarcely equal to their muscular development. 

 So I was never found, and, even had they 

 discovered my whereabouts, they could not 

 have got me down, for I would have shot their 

 fingers as fast as they climbed up. 



During my stay at Boxmoor, an incident 

 occurred which I must not omit to relate, as the 

 poacher bested us all, including the magistrates; 

 but, later on, I shall show how this smart card 

 played into my hands and had to cut and run. 



