The Worthington advance., 1878-10-24

On We went in silence as to our
tongues, but with the leaves rust'ing and
sticks cracking as we pushed on. Now I
could hear my uncle ejaculatipg: then
he'd stumble and mutter, while once I
had to haul him out of q small hole half
full Of water. a ~.
"Contound it" growled the old gentle.
man 'but )'ll pay some one for this.
Open out bit to the right, Dick
l separated from the main body. and
on We still pressed, rustling snd crack
ling along, while now and again, l cuu'd
make out the ell-defned forms of pheas-
ants roosting amid tho low branches of
the trees. All a. tnce heard my uncle
stop short, for ab"ut bundled yards to
my right there came again sharp "bang,
bang" Of two guns.
Push on, my boy" whispered the old
gentleman, closing up; and then. as fast
as we could fort he dense underground.
We made our way in the direction of the
sounds. "They're out strong, my boy: =:
but we're four determined men. with
right on our side, and a prize to win-eh,
you dog?"
"Oof!' involuntarily exclaime ed, for
just then my uncle gave me poke in
the ribs with his stock-very facetiously,
no doubt; but it hurt.
We We're now in the thickest part of
the wood and, after going little further,
felt my shoulder clutched, and
"Here they come," was whispered in
my ear. "Seize one man, Dick, and hold
on 10 him like bull-deg."
Just then I could hear in front the
sharp cracking and rus'ling made by
bodies being forced through the under
wood; and, grasping my staff and press
ing eagerly forward, l waited, with beat
ing heart, for the coming Of the enemy
I did not have to wait long, for the next
moment I was face to face with Browsem
"Lord, sir! I thought it had been one
on emp he exclaimed; aud then, c
whispered consultation having been held,
We opened out about twenty yards apart,
and went straight away in the direction
we supposed the poachers to have taken.
On, slowly and painfully, with the
twiys flying back and lashing our faces,
roots trying to trip US up, and the night
growing darker and darker. Right and
and left I could hear my uncle and
Brosem, while right off beyond the old
gentleman, Mr.. Todds, the reticent, was
making his way. Every eye was strained.
and every ear attent to catch the slight
est sound; but for quite ten minutes we
crept on, until right in our rear came the
sharp, loud report of gun; and then,
after the interval Of few moments, ancth-
er louder and apparently nearer.
"Back again. cried my uncle; and
then, casting off all caution, we all pushed
forward eagerly, closing in as we went,
till we were only separated by few
bushes, 80 that could hear the hard
breathing on either side. Hard work,
blundering and stumbling along; bu,
the will was good, and at last we all drew
up again in a small opening, painting, hot,
and regularly breathed.
"Hist!" whispered my uncle. and we
all listened eagerly; but with the excep-
-*ion Of wild strange cry some distance
Of, all was silent.
whats that2' whispered to Brow.
sem.
"On'y howl, sir" he whispered again
Blessed rum start this, ain't it2'
"Bang, bang!' again hundred yards
off,
"Come on! roared my uncle, furiousiy
''tbere won't be bird left in the place.
And away we dashed again; bu tonly &C
pull up once more, regularly puzzled.
t. Taint no good, sir" whispered Brow.
sem: zone might go on like this all night
and ketch no one"
"Why2" said hopping nv brow,
"Fbat ere. sir. as said, was a howl
must ha' been Munday's Ghost; and then,
ere shots as we keeps hearings the ones
as killed the poor fellow, and that's why
the poachers never comes to this Bit
"Browsem," phtied up my uncle.
eyes, sir" said browsem.
"You're fool, Browsem,' puffed my
uncle.
'Thanky, SIR" said Browsem.
"What do you mean by that, si12' cried
my uncle, fercely.
"Noth1ng, SIR said the keeper, mildly
"For two pins, sir" critd my uncle
fiercely, I'D discharge you, sir. Dyer
hear? discharge you, sir, for talking such
foolery. Ghosts posts! pooh! bah
puff! stuff! yah! Forward"
murmured his approval of his superior's
language. but gave superstltious shive1
at the same moment. And thence once
more we opened out and tramped through
the woods till regularly beaten out, and
without having heard another shot OF
seen single enemy, we reluctantly re-
traced our steps to the Priory
The next morning at breakfast the par
lor-maid again announced Browsem--
for my uncle abjures man-servants in the
house-and the keeper, looking puzzled
and long-faced, appeared at the door.
"Now, then," sputtered my uncle.
shave you caught them2''
They clear, d Sandy Plants last night,
sir" growled the man.
"Who-- what2" cried my uncle, upset
ting his coffee:
''Some on 'em-Rudd,es,' l s'pose, ~
said Browsem. Don't b'Ievve there's a
tail left outer sc,res,' said the mau.
'There g, down and wait, and I'll
come directly after breakfast
But to all intents and purposes mv
uncle had finished his breakfast, Tor
nothing more would he touch: while his
face grew purple with rage. Gout-
evervthiug-was forgotten for the time;
and half an hour after, Browsem was
pointing out the signs of the havoc made
on the preceding night in the fir plarta-
ton: Here and there lay feathers, spots
OF blood, gun-wads; and many trunk
was SCARED and f1ayed with shot. To
one place, where the trees were the
largest, the poachers SCENE d
to have been burning sulphur beneath
the boughs; while twice over we came up
on wounded pheasants, and one dead
hung high up in the stubby branches
where it lad caught.
My uncle looked furious, and then.
turning in the direction Of the scene of the
last nights adventures, be strobe off, and
we followed in silence.
On reaching the wood we very sc on
found. from the trampled underwood and
broken twigs, traces Of our chase but the
birds seemed plentiful. and no feathers
or b'ood-stains were to b. found.