170 Cranborne Chase. 



Walk under Moses Brixey, the head keeper. The walk extended 

 about two miles, and was a particularly favourite haunt of the deer, 

 being full of the coverts and hiding-places which they are fond of, 

 and abounded with leafy holly, which they feed upon. It was the 

 21st June, 1822. I can see it now, as if it was yesterday only, 

 when, standing by my cottage door I looked down over the wood- 

 land and coppices scattered here and there, and thought that every- 

 thing was so quiet on my beat, and that I might just go in and 

 have a cup of tea — for you see, Sir, it was about tea time, five 

 o'clock or thereabouts, and the day uncommonly hot, and I felt 

 certainly that I did not care to stir out for anyone before I had it. 

 However, we never know what we have before us. 



" Happening to cast my eyes towards Stock Copse hedgerow, I 

 saw two men walking down the side of it, and as far as I could 

 make out, one had a gun over his arm, but the distance was too far 

 to make sure of it. 



" Well, I made up my mind to start at once, tho' I could not 

 help longing to sit down to the table and have one cup of tea, and 

 I wanted, besides, to see our little son J ames, who was a young'un 

 in arms. I considered it was no use thinking about the matter but 

 prepared to start. I had thrown off my coat, and had been most of 

 the day in my shirt sleeves on account of the heat, but in order to 

 disguise myself I put on a smock frock used in hedge trimming, 

 and took a hook (trimming hook) in my hand. I cautiously fol- 

 lowed the men till I saw them disappear through a gap in the hedge, 

 but when I came up to the gap, and was making my way through 

 it, I almost struck against a man who was standing bolt upright in 

 the middle, with his hands in his pockets. Ah, thinks I to myself, 

 this one stays here to hide the other, so I took no notice of him, 

 but merely passed through by his side as if I was going that way. 



ff For some time I did not catch sight of the fellow I wanted with 

 the gun in his hand, but presently I saw my friend going quietly 

 along some distance ahead of me. Directly he saw me he started 

 into a brisk walk, which gradually quickened into a run. It seemed 

 as though he knew who I was. There happened to be some sheep 

 folded in the field where we were, and several lines of hurdles which 



