The Van Buren press., 1893-04-22

seWh&t6 his charmy asked.
"A better knowledge Of the ground
hereabouts than any man alive; the
quickest eyes and ears and legs ever
given to poacher, and q great pair OF
lungs altogether"
81 can do a bit Of running, and my
wind is sound" said I, with smiling
confidence.
Like enough, "drawled my sergeant
cycling me from top TO toe. Every
new hand has a try at Deerfoot. and
they all think they have good limbs
aud lungs Of leather until they start in
pursuit Of him. But they carry their
tails behind them when they return to
the barracks empty-handed. He's
dead shot, too"
81 am glad to hear all this. !. gives
fellow something to live for. I'm not
bad shot myself
s.Neither was Sub.constabfe Doyle,
who had the last steeplechase after
Decrfoot; and all he got for his pains
was ) slug in the knee, which lamed
him for life
and what's the history OF this ter
ror, sergeant"
I'VE know next to nothing of him.
He has been wild man of the woods,
living 10 caves or in the trees, or
Heaven knows where or how for years
and years. Some say he is Fenian
that's been ont on the hills since '66.
All that is known about him is that he
lives by poaching, and that Col. Bran
agan would probably put down another
twenty pounds if he thought there was
any chance Of nabbing the wild man"
WAS raw sub-constable of police
from the black north-Antrim, to be
precise-when arrived. at the end of
the seventies. at the little Munster
village Of Knockmullen. was burst
Ing with anxiety 10 distinguish myself,
and hero was . splendid opportunity
Knockmulleu was a quiet cluster Of
cottages that seemed to he kneeling
pioualy ut the feet OF big white
wanhed chapel. On the north, east and
western sides OF the village rose an
irregular mountain chain. A stream
/. flowed through the valley and found
IL way through the southern plain to
goodly river. The mountains were
we'll wooded; indeed on the northern
slope the timber grew SO thiclsly as to
make progress up the slope almost an
inpossibility. On the eastern side of
Knockmullen the mountain chain rose
higher than its northern and western
arms. and the top was an abrupt and
rugged furze-coated peak, some fifteen
hundred feet above the sea level. This
hill was called Blacknock. At the far
aide Of Blacknock there was great,
wids. sweeping slope stretching down
into . tenantlcsA silent valley-the
most desolate spot had ever seen or
imagined-and beyond the valley more
chains of hills
Col Bransgan-a justice of the peace
and the principal landowner in Knock
mullen-lived in big house at the
southern side of the valley. The
colonel was full of years and full Of
sporting fire. He was proud to be reck-
oued the best shot within twenty-mile
radiuA He would probably have ig-
nored the mysterious poacher who
was fattening on his preserves-for he
was . generous old gentleman-on only
that the colonel knew in his heart that
DAerfoot was reckoned to be better
shot than himself.
There was very little TO do at my sta
tion- A petty sessions court had to be
attended fortnightly at town six miles
distant and in .he interval lounging
and amoking and climbing the hills
formed my chief occupations There
wns NO one in the barracks but my old
sergeant and his wife, and the Munster
villagers would not, OF course, make Q
friend of . policeman.
Months went on, but though kept
my eyes open and my mouth shut
never chanced to light upon Deerfoot
IN my wanderings. Common report
assigned to the poacher home in some
mysterious cave at the far side of
Blsckuock. and naturally Blacknock
was . favorite rambling ground Of mine.
learned should have no difficulty in
recognixing the wild man of the woods
He was Of middle height, very slender
and wore no cap. His hair was long
and dark and fell over his shoulders.
He WAS black bearded. His costume
c0nsi1ted of gray and grimy pea
Jacket and corduroy trousers
One morning l took ont brand new
sine. with which her meiesty's govern
ment had just supplied me. had Col.
Branagan's leave to shoot over his
land-ns kind Of encouragement to
me TO bring down the bigger game
and was anxious to have little quiet
ride practice at some Ilover which
dwelt at the far side OF Blacknock.
remember feeling particularly
buoynut a. l trudged up the hill, my
cleaning weapon slung over my shoul-
der. ! got to the top Of the knock, and
then unslinging my rifle descended at
the other side to favorite perch Of
miue-a big rock jutting out from the
mountain side. Here could recon
noiter. Plover was my mission. but ii
could BY any chance bag Deerfoot
wonldn't mind missing the birds
Vixen TOT 70 my rocky perch, wsa