Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-24

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sand. They had been put awav s.rla,s aa
and We're very little rusted. Then 7
made sure that the slin-lnote IN
easlls, ana fastened them to their pegs
with fresh string. In less than an
iiour they We're ready for use and
I look my old cloak and sewed inside If
TWO great pockets, either of which
would hold three rabbits. Then I
made my first plan.
Al haH-past nine l set out with NV
shares for Horizons DingIe. which lies
mile and half further from the
village than Blackstead l went quick
~ I'LL came to where the road runs
within a hundred yards of FIectham
Wood, and then l stole very quietly
along the grass, that no watcher posted
IN the wood might hear me- \ quar-
Ter OF mile from the wood lies the
dlnSle mouth. twenty yards from tie
read, and | slipped into it quickly.
knew every foot of it: ana besides. If
IS an easy place to set Il wire in. Ones
SKIRTS are the chief difficulty. unless
you are very careful they brush across
the run, and no rabbit or hare will mass
along it. But here l could stand I'll
the dingle and reach up to the runs
which ran along the banks. 1t was
dark, but, looking upwards, could see
dlmly the big trees which were my
landmarks. l went a dozen yards into
the dlngle and set my first wire. driv-
ing the peg into the bank three feet
below the run with my foot, and rub
ping my glove ir the dead leaves TO
take all human scent from it, before
stuck into the middle of the run the
little notchcd stick which holds up the
wire moose. Moving along as noise
lcssly as Il cat, | set all my wires in
the tirsx forty yards of the dingIe, three
on either bank. Then [ retraced my
steps; ana when | came out onto the
road | found myself breathing quickly
and signing with relief. Whether il
was that had grown unused to poach-
ing, or that | had never before poached
alone. | had not enjoyed setting my
wires one little bit.
l WAS soon home and in bed. At two
o'clock Jane woke me to take my spell
OF nursing till six; when she relieved
me | went straight of to my wires.
After the watching ana sleep!essness,
the dark morning was horribly chilling:
but hope ana hard walking warmed
glow. l slipped into it with my heart
beating quickly, so much depended on
success. The first two wires had been
| thrown: l pulled them up ana my heart
began to sink. When [ felt Tor The
third it was not there. ] CROPPED about
my feet found the string taut. and at
| the end of it Il noosed rabbit. My
spirits rose. l pulled up the peg, ana
dropped rabbit and snare together into
my pocket. The fourth wire had not
been thrown: coming TO the fifth, I tr3i
| on = rabbit it had caught, and pruchcd
him; the sixth was empty ! came oui
OF the dinsle very happy: my hand had
not forgotten its cunning and my anX-
| iety was gone. l hurried home. had
breakfast and went to bed, and slept
till eleven.
I awoke to dreams of aftlnence or
| the strength of two rabbits, and began
| at once to MAKE my plan for the day.
My heart was set on a hare. / was
| cleaning the wires by Toms bedside,
when looked up to find him watching
me with the first interest | had seen
in his face since he came back.
| "Ah.' he said in his shadow Of d
voice, you're going to have a shot a
| Bunter."
AT Il hare" I said. "Igot two rab-
bits last night" And L told him of
my wiring the dinGle.
| His eyes grew almost bright as he
| listened and l felt that / had stimu-
lated the desire TO live in him. But
ne was 50 weak that the moment L had
done he fell asleep.
was indeed impatient for the twi-
light, ana as soon as it tel | hurried
OF through the village to the down
which runs along above the Hall. A
| footpath rises to the TOP Of it and half
| way up Il belt of larch and fir stretches
across the side Of the slope. | had
often noticed that the hares came down
to the meadows through the stile and
through d gap in the hedge on the fur
Their side of the belt of trees. At the
stile paused and looked up and down.
No one was coming. Below me, to the
right. lay BaldraR Hall; and | was
surprised to see many of the windows
brightly lighted. Sir John Baldran
must have come down for his shoot
Of course l had not heard of It, Iom
kent Jane and myself prisoners, we
had not even Deetl 10 cIlulCi 1SliiSC MS
return | wasted no time, but went
along the lower side of thu hedge TO
the gap, which lay about fifty yards
from the stile. l set my wire IN
the gap itself, taking the greatest care
not to touch the run. Then l went
back To the stile, climbed over It, went
twenty yards down the hedge, ana
walked out into the field, letting my
skirts drag through the stuDble l
walked in a half circle TO point IN
the hedge twenty yards on the other
side of the stile. l was pretty sure
that not a hare would cross that halt-
circle for several hours. | had closed
the massage to the stile; they wouia
All 80 through the gap Then Weh'
quietly home. .a,
When had told Tom what ! han
= done. he said, Il should ike some A'Ie
soup
IT was the first time ne had 1aiicleu
anvtbing. and [ knew well that he ohiy
fancied hare soup made from peaches
hare. The next day he had II. rol
Going to my wire at ten that night !
| .ts,,vxn arJ n plump yOuHS