This was
the first intimation: the keeper could hardly believe it, till he
himself went down and followed the trail of foot-marks. There was not
the least difficulty in tracing the course of the poachers through the
wood; the feathers were lying about; the scorched paper (for they used
muzzle-loaders), broken boughs, and shot-marks were all too plain. But
by this time the gang were well away, and none were captured or
identified.
The extreme severity of the frost naturally caused people to stay
indoors, so that no one noticed the cart going through the village; nor
could the track of its wheels be discerned from others on the snow of
the highway beaten down firm. Even had the poachers been disturbed, it
is doubtful if so small a staff of keepers could have done anything to
stop them. As it was, they not only made a good haul--the largest made
for years in that locality--but quite spoiled the shooting.
There are no white figures passing through the peaceful wood to-night
and firing up into the trees. It is perfectly still. The broad moon
moves slow, and the bright rays light up tree and bush, so that it is
easy to see through, except where the brambles retain their leaves and
are fringed with the dead ferns.
The poaching of the present day is carried on with a few appliances
only. An old-fashioned poacher could employ a variety of 'engines,' but
the modern has scarcely any choice.
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