198 THE GAMEKEEPER AT HOME. 



ran between tall firs, and was deep in shadow. With a 

 shout the four or five men in the 'drive,' or green lane, 

 slipped back behind the trees, and two fired, killing the 

 mastiff dog on the spot and ' stinging ' one man in the 

 legs. Quick as they were, the under keeper, to use his 

 own words, ' got a squint of one fellow as I knowed ; and 

 I lets drive both barrels in among the firs. But, bless 

 you ! it were all over in such a minute that I can't hardly 

 tell 'ee how it were. Our squire ran straight at 'em ; but 

 our men hung back, though they had their guns and he 

 had nothing but a stick. I just seen him, as the smoke 

 rose, hitting at a fellow ; and then, before I could step, I 

 hears a crack, and the squire he was down on the sward. 

 One of them beggars had come up behind, and swung his 

 gun round, and fetched him a purler on the back of his 

 head. I picked him up, but he was as good as dead, to 

 look at ; ' and in the confusion the poachers escaped. 

 They had probably been put up to the ambuscade by one 

 of the underlings, as they did not pass that way, but 

 seemed to separate and get off by various paths. The 

 ' young squire ' had to be carried home, and was ill for 

 months, but ultimately recovered. 



Not one of the gang was ever captured, notwithstand- 

 ing that a member of it was recognised. Next day an 

 examination of the spot resulted in the discovery of a trail 

 of blood upon the grass and dead leaves, which proved 

 that one of them had been wounded at the first discharge. 



