140 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



been considerably over forty at the time. I, 

 therefore, had to leave him in possession 

 of the field, with my gun, I having no weapon 

 available, not even a stone ; had there been any 

 handy I believe I should have used them, 

 sooner than be beaten. I told him this and that I 

 knew his name was Alexander, and so, re- 

 luctantly, departed, going right up into the 

 wood. 



After a few minutes I met a man called 

 Hobbs, who was just beginning his work of 

 hedging ; I told him the story and he returned 

 with me to the scene of my late encounter, 

 taking with him a stout sapling. Alexander 

 was gone, but Hobbs found my gun about 

 twenty yards away from the place where we had 

 fought. 



Alexander absconded, but a warrant was 

 issued, and five pounds reward was offered for 

 his apprehension, and he was taken, about five 

 or six months afterwards, on the rail-road at 

 Swindon. He was brought to Chilton, and 

 sent to Marlborough for trial. He was 

 charged with " attempting to kill or do some 



