The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-28

: = !: 6: ]
Nh ! IN WMV) notion" said
|A I VI my elderly SER
|8fH b JM r. NV ge ut MS we
~ y II F/IElz. stood in the ivy
@H | n W covered porch
MA 4All \ of the little po-
lice barracks at
|Rockmullen. "Ile has managed to
Se us all the go-by for many years,
you may rs well let him be-"
tAWhat's his charm?" asked.
Ia better knowledge of the ground
&Heabouts than any man alive; the
[Hckest eyes and cars and legs ever
|tfn to poacher. and great pair of
I5gs altogether"
|Ai can do bit of running. and my
ad is sound" said l, with smiling
Nh fidcnce.
aLiSc enough, "drawlcd my sergeant,
|Hing inc from top to toe. Every
IN hand has try at Deerfoot, and
|Ny all think they have good limbs
lungs of leather until they start in
'sEsuit of him. But they carry their
Igls behind them when they return to
barracks empty-handed. He's n
|Hd shot, too"
|ssl am glad to hear all this. II gives
|h How something to live for. I'm not
.Sad shot myself"
|aNcithcr was Sub.constablc DOYLE,
|fy, had the last steeplcchasc after
and all he got for his pains
|E,f n slug in the knee, which lamed
~ for life"
HAnd what's the history of this ter
|M scrgeant?"
.T'Ne know next to nothing of him.
5ihns been wild man of the woods,
.Shg in caves or in the trees, or
|eaven knows where or how for years
III years. Some say he is Fcnian
.stts been out on the hills since '0G
that is known about him is that he
LIS by poaching, and that Col. Bran
I'M would probably put down another
Anty pounds if he thought there was
HI chance of nabbing the wild man."
|Hwas raw snb.constable of police
I'm the black north-Antrim, to be
R,tise-whcn l arrived, ut the end of
EN seventies, at the little Munster
Mage of Knockmullen. 1 was burst
4 with anxiety to distinguish myself,
| here was a splendid opportunity
was quiet cluster OF
UHagcs that seemed to be kneeling
EHsly ut the feet of a big white
3hed chapel. On the north, east and
tern sides of the village rose an
|Algular mountain chain. A stream
Gafed through the valley and found
through the southern plain to
river. The mountains were
4 wooded; indeed on the northern
FeNe the timber grew so thickly as to
progress up the slope almost an
On the eastern side of
Bck mulle1 the mountain chain rose
Her than its northern and western
1 rs, and the top was an abrupt and
RslRcd furzc-coated peak, some fifteen
EStdrcd feet above the sea level, This
EAwas called Blaclsnocls. At the far
Hi of Blacknock there was great,
HE, sweeping slope stretching down
HI n tcnantless, silent valley-the
|Sdt dcsolate spot had ever seen or
beyond the valley more
4 ms of hills.
RSspl Branagan-a justice of the peace
ka the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in Knock
Talcn-livcd in big house at the
H hern side OF the valley. The
RMnel was full OF years and full of
Netting fire. He was proud to be recll-
|sA .the best shot within twenty
ElHus. He would probably have liz
BEfed the mysterious poachcr, who
UIa fattening on his prcscrves-for he
Nh a generous old gentlcman-only
.Ef the colonel knew in his heart that
GSrfoot was reclloned to be a better
Esh than himself
BsSllerc was very little to do at my sta
n. A petty sessions court had to be
H ndcd fortnightly at 4 town six miles
and III The interval lounging
# smoking and climbing the hills
MINED my chief occupations. There
hi no one in the barracks but my old
and his wife, and the Munster
would not, Of course, make a
of policeman.
| onths went on, but though l kept
Hi eyes open and my mouth shut
fer CHANGED to light upon Deerfoot
4my wandcrings. Common report
TO the poacher home in some
cave at the far side of
fS clsnock, and naturally Blaclsnocls
f4s favoritc rambling ground of mine.
ksyarned shonld have no difficulty in
{Slpgnizing the wild man of the woods.
! was of middle height, very slender
fM wore no cap. His hair was long
|Asl dark and fell over his shoulders.
nj was black bearded. His costume
assisted OF gray and grirny pea
Alet and corduroy trousers.
&E3ne morning took out brand new
with which her majesty's govern
int had just supplied me. had Col.
leave to shoot over his
Gd-as /; kind of encouragement TO
to bring down the bigger game
"A l was anxious to have little quiet
I3|e practice at some ployer which