New-York tribune., 1900-03-04
COMEDY ON THE MOORS
A POACHING STORY.
BY william Buchan.

:. -, halcvnn days which sometimes fall
y. horlarIand OF autumn and winter, when the
- shines with summer brilliance from cloud
lose sky when ne now sOmbre landscape takes
Younger and brighter aspect, and to the
uo-n ont heritage there comes touch of fresh
ne But now. Is the cold line of shadow mount
"A the hillside and the suns heat died from the
Garth, the harsher feeling of the late season as
serted itself and there was a shver in the air
betokening night Of frost. The stream IN the
valley had lost us sparkle; cold and coiorless its
waters looked as they flowed full Tipped between
abeir banks OF dry gray bent; and even the hills
,rare scarce relieved from monOtonous grayness
ny the bright patches of withered bracken, the
soft green turf Of the burnside, and the clumps
Of dark pine which dotted their slopes.
The shepherd Of kingsrnuir arose IaZily from
the messy bank where he had been reclining He
WAS returning from one OF his rare visits to the
nearest market town. and, as the way was long
and the heat had been oppressive he had sat him
down by the stream side 10 rest But now
sundown and the chill Of evening reminded
him that he must be getting on his way;
So wrapping his plaid tightly around
his broad shoulders, he prepared to re-
sume his journey Before him in a strag-
Cling line the flock Of sheep he had that
day bought at The market sOemnIy cropped the
roadside turf, h&nked by two shaggy collies
who watched IL zealous rivalry to prevent their
straying; and the shepherd, he surveyed their
broad well deeced backs was filed with much
content
fMeg-Don-away by wide" he cried in the
mysterious language Of herdiug But as at the
order the obedient dogs scampered off In q
hairy whiIlwind TO recall straggIers and trim
she flock for the march, something in the stream
at his feet caught the shepherds eye and made
hin bend cautiously lower For the shepherd,
though in many ways an exemplary subject and
sstrict observer OF the laws Of the realm, made
one exception. The salmon laws he held were
iliquitous; and there being few things in the
world he loved better than salmon, he saw no
reason why he should not capture them when
and by what means he chose. The close season
had begun, and On the lower streams the baiIiffs
would be keeping strict watch for the unwary
poacher. But here it was different One such
Gentleman, have heard, did in fit of over
Eealousness for duty. penetrate these Businesses;
but from his fate his SUCCESSORS took warning.
and OF late years these moorland streams had
been a little overlooked
So it was with small fear OF interruption from
that quarter that the shepherd took out his
hooks for the capture Of Z EoOdly salmon which
lay invi:ingiy in a convenient part OF the
stream. He was an old. experienced hand, and
advanced confidently expecting an easy capture. .
KaTly he approached he stream and arranged /
his tackle; and very skilfuy he worked his
hooks upward. But the salmon was 4 cunning /.
fish and resisted the efforts land him With /.
each failure the shepherd grew the more deter
mined. till at last, in the heat OF the chase he
became obvioUs 70 all else. So engrossed was
be that he did Hot notice i short, thick set man
approach and stand watching him with a grim
smile
The newcomer seemed strangely out Of place
IN his surroundings. In his appearance there
we're none Of those marks which cling to the
dweler IN the hills and distinguish him from
other He had the air Of one who had
strayed from the smoke Of a mining country
into the midst ot this great hill land; at any
rate he was certainly not q shepherd He was
Short and squat, with bun neck and an un-
lovely cOuntenance unimprGved by a most
Vicious cast in his eyesight; and the leer which
ukhgured his face when the shepherd, his per
Severance at last rewarded, drew his prize to
most sinister aspect
The shepherd eyed the stranger with some
aStonshment He had Dot heard him approach
ana his silent behavior was ominous. But II
vas ridiculous 20 have any fears on the score Of
90 Insignificant person; 50, nothing daunted,
he slipped the salmon into his plaid and girt
himself again for the road As the other showed
70 sign Of addressing him, he felt bound In
GV1lity 70 venture 4 remark
EztraordinaT dne wather for the back-end"
be said, anably
E9Fr MI -