A Shepherd's Life

e-John Barter the village carpenter-How the keeper was fooled-A poaching attack planned-The fight-

t worth preserving relates to the head-keeper of the preserves, or chase, and to a great figh

try outside of his own lands. On the Wiltshire side these rights extended from Cranbourne Chase over the South Wiltshire Downs to Salisbury, and the whole territory, about thirty miles broad, was di

re in a hollow of the downs there was an extensive wood, and just within the wood a large stone house, said to be centuries old but long pulled down, called Rollston House, in which the head-keeper lived with two under

avy object having been fastened to the door-handle. It proved to be a basket or box, in which a well-nourished, nice-looking boy baby

n and tre

house my f

hild fast asleep in its cradle; and instantly, with a great cry, she fell on it and snatched it up in her arms, and holding it clasped to her bosom, began lavishing caresses and endearing expressions on it, tears of rapture in her eyes! Not one word of inquiry or bitter, jealous reproach-all that p

case he knew of in which the surname Found had been bestowed on a child of unknown parentage, and he told me the story of one of the Founds who had

r, John Barter by name was a carpenter and lived in an old, thatched house which still exists and is very familiar to me. He had five sons; then, after an interval of some years, a daughter was born, who in due time was to be Isaac'

rranged, one of the most daring of the men secreted himself close to the keeper's house, and having watched the keepers go in and the lights put out, he actually succeeded in fastening up the doors from the outside wit

nd roared like a maddened wild beast in a cage, and put forth all his strength to pull the doors open. Finally he smashed a window and leaped out, gun in hand, and calling the others to

planned, and on this occasion two of the five brothers were in it, and there were four more, the blacksmith of Winterbo

risky affair, and they made a solemn compact that if caught they would stand by one

t of his threats and fought against the four, and eventually were separated. By and by the younger of the two was driven into a brambly thicket where his opponents imagined that it would be impossible for him to escape. But he was a youth of indomitable spirit, strong and agile as a wild cat; and returning blow for blow he succeeded in tearing himself from them, then after a running fight through the darkest part of the wood for a d

y a sleeve of his coat; shreds and rags were numerous on the bramble bushes, and by and by he came on a pool of blood. "They've kill 'n!" he cried in despair, "they've killed my poor boy!" and straight to Rollston House he went to inquire, and was met by Harbutt himself, who came out limping, one boot on, the other foot b

rself and you can git him others

n comes out of jail in a year or so you tell him from me that if he'll just step up this way I'l

e old men was troubled in his mind. "What do

er, with a grin, "I was just thinkin

ried the angry father, "if that boy of m

im with a smile of

ybe you'll be wanting new locks on your doors; you can git they in Salisbury too-you've no

not in a fit condition to make his escape; he could hardly get across the room and could not sit or lie down without groaning. He could only try to hide him in the cottage and pray that they would not discover him. The cottage was in the middle of the village and had but lit

a better air for a short time, and while down he was tempted to take a peep at the street through the small, latticed window. But he quickly withdrew his head and by and by sai

y quite early there came a loud rap at the door, and on its being opened

ke your son," sa

e wall, then spoke: "It you've got a search-warrant you may come in; if you haven'

e: Moses Found was one of them. Later in the day the constable returned armed with a warrant and was thereupon admitted, with the result that the poor youth was soon discovered i

to Woolwich, where men were wanted and the pay was good. And by and by the accounts they sent home induced first one then the other brother to g