National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-01-13
THE KEEPERS STORY.

1uE hEEIEhS SlUh1s
There is not much honor among regular
poachers. They are very often ready t.
split upon one another, though when the,
are out in gang they will stick together
and make desperate work with the keepers
as everybody knows. But over and ovel
again, from information received | have
been able to out general and oyerpowel
them.
Now Grimstone Roughs has always beer
pet cover at the squlre's and mine. IT !.
on some rising ground not far from the
squiTcs school, where all we youngster.
were so well taught; and from the time
began TO 20 to school knew every inch o
it well Ny father conld trust me, and
send me to lay down corn for the phea-
SAINTS, and tell me to keep my eyes open fol
yermln and so forth and many half holi-
day have spent in that wood watching
the young pheasauts running about, and
the squirrels a-nutting. Its aprettv sight
10 see those little fellows stripping hazel,
and if you don't move you may sit under
the same tree and see them do it. The
ground below is soon covered with cracked
shells and uncracked nuts, but it is of no
use picking up these last, they are all bad.
Master Squirrel does not gather nuts for
anybody but himself and his family. But
am blahbing in my old age: must get
on with my story.
The wood covers about twenty five acres
Of ground, on a gentle rise to the top.
From the top Of the wood stretches out for
many miles an extensive moorland and
hah-cultlvated country; at the bottom,
and going round nearly two sides Of the
wood, flows deep and sluggish stream,
and at the opposite lower corner, with Just
astrip Of meadow land between, is an old
bridge with Roman foundations, theNsay
where four roads meet One of these NE
cover side Of the river, goes over the Sspr-
land TO big town about fifteen milesD !;
the other, to the left, to some farms of the
squire's. On the opposite side one road
goes past the school and my lodge to the
hall and beyond it, and the other to the
nelghboring toWn of W. The road up
the moorland had formerly gone right
through the cover, BIT the squire had
managed to get it diverted alongside to
the left. and the old road, through the
strip Of meadow, is now merely drive,
hut trespasserS occasionally will use it, as
the new road is rough and steepish. Now
7 will be seen that hen poachcrs out of
W have been in the wood they must
make for the bridge to get home, and when
happened to be out alone and heard any
disturbance in the wood, | always used to
keep near the bridge to find out who they
were, If strong party, and if only one or
Two, for capture, in case they made for
The bridge by the old drive through the
meadow; for this being private road,
could legally do so. But the Williams gen
orally got out of the wood upon the moor
iand road, and then, that being public
road, could not touch them but still
mad the satisfaction of finding out who the
pmderers were. The road had not often
been attempted by a strong gang, for by
occupying in strength the line of the moor
land road we could drive them into IL cor
her by the river, to force them to make q
rush down the drive, in which case we
We're always ready for them, SO that the
party was commonly small one
One night, " from information received"
blll Bevan and had posted ourselves close
70 The bridge on the lookout for two hulk
ing fellows out of W, whom we ex-
lected to hit upon going TO or returning
rom their nefarious work At that time
was stout, strong young fellow, and did
not care for any man in the country in
good nature, and Bill Bevan was my favor
ne watcher. He was bold as lion, much
olgger and stronger than myself. and had
nelped me to handculf a few pheasant
robbers.
We waited till past two O'Clock, and saw
and heard nothing indeed, we hardly ex-
tected to do so; for the business our
friends were to be out upon, was the long,
net on the upper side of the cover and
IRVING in, which is done with little noise
unless 1t may be an occasional squeak from
mare: and we had watched the bridge
y.ueiully from distance, while it was
Hght, and had not seen them cross it. We
."ereiore at last determined TO give up,
!us5 take round the upper side of the cover,
% ana then go of TO bed. On sudden we
neard voices talking in the wood, and the
'peahers apparently making for the bridge.
Why, they have been there, after
ali' SAID Bill how could they have got
Never mind how they got there" said
y there they are, and, as luck will have
u, are coming down the drive. Keep still,
ana we'll catch IN here
:. we waited quiet under the shadow OF
Ine hedse-the men were still talking and
llaWng near. There was not much light,
ugt the stars were bright, and by them,
"nen they came within about ten yards, |
Iyuid distinguish our two friends, one
hus3g hAo3r'ng along with heavy bag at his
:, Now, then, said |, in whisper, take
'"e outside one, Bill" and we each