Two Men by a Burning Hut
Here is the record of another encounter. There was a certain wood, the timber in which had been felled and carted. It had previously contained a good deal of "coppice," and after the wood-cutters had done their work, this had been utilized by the charcoal burners. The ashes from the charcoal had promoted quite an unseasonable growth, and everywhere about the stoles of the ash roots and hazel snags, fresh green grass and clover were springing. The hares on the neighbouring estate had found out this, and came nightly to the clearing to feed. As there were neither gaps nor gates we found it impossible to net them, and so had to resort to another device. Before the wood had been cleared rabbits had swarmed in it, and these had found ingress and egress through "smoots" in the stone fences. Upon examination we found that the larger of these were regularly used by our quarry, and, as we could not net them, we determined to plant a purse net at every smoot, drive the wood with fast dogs, and so bag our game. When everything was ready the lurcherscommenced their work, and, thoroughly grasping the programme, worked up to it admirably. Each dog that "found" drove its hare fast and furiously (this was necessary), and, in an hour, a dozen were bagged. There was only this disadvantage. The wood was so large, the smoots so far apart, that many of the hares screamed for some seconds before they could be dispatched. The continuance of this screaming brought up the keepers, and our game was up, and with it what we had bagged. The watchers numbered four or five, and, leaving everything, we ran. In our line of retreat was an abandoned hut built by the charcoal burners, consisting of poles, with heather and fern for roof and sides. We made for this, hoping, in the darkness, to elude our pursuers, then double in our tracks as soon as they had passed. But they were not so easily deceived. As soon as the crackling of the dead sticks caused by our tread had ceased, they evidently suspected some trick, and knew that we were still in the wood. And the hut was the first object ofsearch. As they were quite unaware of our number they declined to enter, but invited us into the open. We replied by barricading the narrow doorway with poles and planks which we found within. Of course this was only completing our imprisonment, but we felt that one or more of their number would be sent forfurther help, and that then we would make a dash to escape. We agreed to take off in different directions, to divide the attacking force, and then lead them across the roughest country we could find. A deep stream was not far off, and here we would probably escape. But our scheme went wrong—or, rather, we had no opportunity to put it into practice. After waiting and listening awhile we saw lights glisten in the chinks of the heather walls, and then fumes of smoke began to creep up them. They were burning us out. Quietly as we could we undid the barricading, and, as the air rushed in, tiny tongues of flame shot up the heather. Now we lay low with our faces on the damp floor. Then a pole was thrust through. Another current of air andthe flames shot everywhere. The thick smoke nearly stifled us, and the heat became intense. The fire ran up the poles, and burning bits of the heather roof began to fall. Then came the crisis. A fir pole had been raised without, and then was to crash through the hut. This was the first outside proceeding we had seen—we saw it through the riddled walls. As soon as the men loosed their hold of the tree for its fall we sprang from the doorway; and then for a few seconds the sight was magnificent. As the roof crashed in the whole hut was one bright mass of flame, and a sheet of fire shot upwards into the night. The burning brackens and ling sent out myriads of sparks, and these falling around gave us a few seconds' start. As agreed, we each hurled a burning brand among the keepers, then disappeared in the darkness. Certainly no one followed us out of the wood. We had simply scored by lying low with the fire about us, taking advantage of the confusion and dazzling light, and then knowing our way out of the difficulty. The squire's son, we saw, was oneof the attacking party. We were a bit burnt, we lost the game and nets, but were quite content to have escaped so easily.
Two Men in a Tree
There is another incident which I have good cause to remember all my life. It is of a somewhat different nature to the foregoing, and occurred on the estuary of the river which I used frequently to net with good results. Someone who was certainly not very friendly disposed had seen me and my companion start for our fishing ground, and had made the most of their knowledge. After getting to the near vicinity of our work, we lay down beneath a hay-rick to wait for a degree of darkness. Then we crawled on hands and knees by the side of a fence until it brought us to a familiar pool which we knew to be well stocked with salmon and trout. As we surveyed the water we heard voices, and knew that the pool was watched. These sounds seemed to come from the lower limbs of a big tree, and soon one of the watchers hidden in the branches stupidly struck a match to light his pipe. This not only frescoed two forms against the night, butlit up their faces with a red glow. The discovery was a stroke of luck. We knew where we had the water bailiffs, and the rest was easy. We got quietly away from the spot, and soon were at work in a pool further up stream. No one but a gaunt heron objected to our fishing, and we made a splendid haul. The salmon and sea-trout had begun to run, and swarmed everywhere along the reaches. We hid our net in the "otter" holes, and, under heavy loads, made for home across the meadows. We were well aware that the local police changed duty at six in the morning, and timed our entry into town precisely at that hour. But our absence of the previous night had gone further abroad, and the local Angling Association, the Conservancy Board, and the police had each interested themselves in our doings. It was quite unsafe to hide the spoil, as was usual, and home it must be carried. I was now alone. In the open I felt comparatively safe, but as I neared my destination I knew not whom I should meet round the next turn. Presently, however, it seemed asthough I was in luck. Every wall, every hedgerow, every mound aided my going. Now a dash across an open field would land me almost at my own door. Then I should be safe. I had hardly had time to congratulate myself on my getting in unobserved when a constable, then a second, and a third were all tearing down upon me from watch points, where they had been in hiding. The odds were against me, but I grasped my load desperately, drew it tightly upon my shoulders, and ran. The police had thrown down their capes, and were rapidly gaining upon me. I got into a long slouching trot, however, determined to make a desperate effort to get in, where I should have been safe. This they knew. Strong and fleet as I was I was too heavily handicapped, but I felt that even though I fell exhausted on the other side of the door-way, I would gain it. My pursuers—all heavy men—were blown, and in trouble, and I knew there was now no obstacle before me. Now it was only a distance of twenty yards—now a dozen. The great thuds of the men's feet were closeupon me, and they breathed like beaten horses. My legs trembled beneath me, and I was blinded by perspiration. "Seize him," "seize him," gasped the sergeant—but I was only a yard from the door. With a desperate feeling that I had won, I grasped the handle and threw my whole weight and that of my load against the door, only to find it—locked. I fell back on to the stones, and the stern chase was ended.
Constables Looking at Large Pile of Fish
For a minute nobody spoke—nobody was able to. I lay where I fell, and the men leaned against what was nearest them. Then the sergeant condescended to say "poor beggar"—and we all moved off. The fish were turned out on the grass in the police station yard, and were a sight to see. There were ninety trout, thirty-seven salmon-morts, and two salmon. I was not detained. One of the men handed me a mort, telling me I would be ready for a substantial breakfast. I knew what it all meant, and first thought of bolting, then settled that I would do as I had always done—face it out.But I little knew what this meant, as will presently be seen. I knew sufficient of the law to forsee that I should be charged with trespassing; with night poaching; with being in illegal possession of fish; with illegally killing and taking salmon; perhaps other counts besides. But what I didnotknow was that I should be charged, in addition, with being in illegal possession of one hundred and twenty-nine salmon and troutduring the close season.
And this is how it came about. There had been an agitation throughout the whole of the Conservancy district. It was contended that the fishing season extended too far into Autumn by a fortnight—that by that time the fish had begun to spawn. The old condition of things had held for years, and the new Conservancy bye-laws had only just come into operation. And so I was trapped. The case came on, and a great shoal of magistrates with it. Two of them were personally interested, and were charitable enough to retire from the Bench—they pushed their chairs back about an inch from the table. I pleaded guilty to all thecharges except the last, and explained the case as clearly as I could. The Conservancy solicitor, who prosecuted, did then what he had never done before. It was a bad case he said, but added that I had never before been charged with netting during "close-time," and had never used lime or other wholesale methods of poisoning. He pointed out, too, to the presiding Justice that I always claimed to "poach square"—at which all the young ones laughed. He did not press for the heaviest penalty. But this was quite unnecessary, as I got it without. I never quite understood how they made it up, but I was fined ninety-seven pounds. I told the Chairman that I should pay it "in kind," and went to "hard" for nine months.
WORKS BY JOHN WATSON.NATURE AND WOODCRAFT.Crown 8vo, 5/.With Illustrations by G. E.Lodge.LONDON: SMITH & INNES.SYLVAN FOLK:SKETCHES OF BIRD AND ANIMAL LIFE IN BRITAIN.Crown 8vo, 3/6.LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN.BRITISH SPORTING FISHES.Crown 8vo, with Frontispiece, 3/6.LONDON: CHAPMAN & HALL.IN THE PRESS.THE ANNALS OF A QUIET VALLEY.
WORKS BY JOHN WATSON.
NATURE AND WOODCRAFT.
Crown 8vo, 5/.With Illustrations by G. E.Lodge.
LONDON: SMITH & INNES.
SYLVAN FOLK:
SKETCHES OF BIRD AND ANIMAL LIFE IN BRITAIN.Crown 8vo, 3/6.
LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN.
BRITISH SPORTING FISHES.
Crown 8vo, with Frontispiece, 3/6.
LONDON: CHAPMAN & HALL.
IN THE PRESS.
THE ANNALS OF A QUIET VALLEY.
Crown 8vo, 286 pp., cloth, 3s. 6d.
SYLVAN FOLK:
Sketches of Bird and Animal Life in Britain,
BY
JOHN WATSON, F.L.S.,
Author of "Nature and Woodcraft," etc.
NOTICES OF THE PRESS.
"Written by a born naturalist.... Characterised by that indefinable something which distinguishes the observer of the fields and woods from the mere book student."—Daily News.
"It is this freshness, this out-door atmosphere, that gives its charm to these sketches of bird and animal life, and that leads the reader along in fascinated interest from the first to the last page."—Literary World.
"May be placed on the same shelf with that of the greatest of all writers on English rural life without any quarrel being incurred.... At once a morally bracing and most instructive book."—Christian Leader.
"He fully deserves the high compliment of being compared with Jefferies.... This beautiful book, in which a zoologist might find new facts, a poet light, and any thoughtful reader an inspiration."—Fishing Gazette.
"There is the same enthusiasm and sincerity that marked Jefferies' work. Mr. Watson always writes like a man who has his eye on his subject. 'Nature by Night' is a thoroughly charming prose idyl, every detail in which is obviously taken at first hand fromNature."—Observer.
"Full of delicate description as enchanting as a fairy tale. Dull indeed must be the reader who is insensible to its delightful charm.... Does the increase of such books mean that we are tired of the civilisation of the streets, and are ready to turn back for a while to the relics of a freer and wilder state?"—Manchester Examiner.
"After the laboured imitations of Jefferies, Mr. Watson's 'Sylvan Folk' comes like a breath of sweet country air into the atmosphere of an emporium of stuffed birds and calico flowers. A sympathetic, keen-eyed, worshipful observer of Nature, Mr. Watson writes with the simplicity and directness of a man who knows what he is about. There is not an uninteresting page in 'Sylvan Folk' from first to last."—Echo.
"He knows how to interpret many of the innumerable signs and symbols which are readily misunderstood, or altogether overlooked, by less careful inquirers.... His descriptions are so fresh—they suggest so vividly the idea of happy hours spent among attractive scenes in the open air—that they will give genuine pleasure to everyone who reads them."—Nature.
London: T. FISHER UNWIN,Paternoster Square, E.C.
Crown 8vo, 302 pp., cloth, 3s. 6d.
NATURE AND WOODCRAFT
BY
JOHN WATSON, F.L.S.,
Author of "Sylvan Folk," &c.
NOTICES OF THE PRESS.
"A delightfully fresh and enjoyable book. Those who know the open air and the life of animated nature will enjoy the skill with which Mr. Watson translates its aspects and its actions into literary expression. Those who dwell in cities will enjoy it because the papers induce the illusion that one is in the country."—Scotsman.
"Written with real ability as well as adequate knowledge. On every page there is evidence of genuine though never paraded enthusiasm for the calm delights of the country. Mr. Watson writes in a clear and attractive manner, and one, moreover, around which an imaginative glamour rests."—Leeds Mercury.
"Mr. Watson writes effectively, from the accumulations of years of close observation of nature. Since the death of Mr. Jefferies few living writers can compete with him in this particular path of literature."—Bookseller.
"This is the bestwritten and most valuable of Mr. Watson's books. Best of all are his chapters on the old Statesman theory of life in the North."—Academy.
"Nothing can be better than all those chapters which describe life among the Cumbrian mountains; this is Mr. Watson's real theme, and he deserves all the thanks we can give him for executing it with such true feeling."—Manchester Guardian.
"Mr. Watson's volume 'Nature and Woodcraft' deserves a hearty welcome, and will doubtless get it. He writes with a grace and fluency that make his book hard to leave."—Yorkshire Post.
"Many admirers of Richard Jefferies will be glad to see that one still lives who can write so charmingly of nature and woodcraft."—Perthshire Advertiser.
"As an observer pure and simple, and as a bright and pleasing recorder, Mr. Watson can hold his own with anybody; and his range is sufficiently extensive to secure, in addition to all other charms, the charm of variety."—Manchester Examiner.
Transcriber's NoteIllustrations have been moved near the relevant section of the text.Page numbers are documented as links within the source code.Inconsistencies have been retained in hyphenation and grammar, except where indicated in the list below.Here is a list of the minor typographical corrections made:"curiouly" changed to "curiously"Period added after "2""the the" changed to "the""avourable" changed to "favourable"Period moved from after "Chapter" to after "3""sucseeded" changed to "succeeded""succesfully" changed to "successfully""dfficult" changed to "difficult"Period added after "apart"Period added after "day""croocked" changed to "crooked""difficut" changed to "difficult""is is" changed to "is""an" changed to "and""ha" changed to "has""troub" changed to "trouble""alwasy" changed to "always"Comma removed after "Bench""its" changed to "it's""fnrther" changed to "further"Single quote changed to double quote after "Nature.""witten" changed to "written"
Transcriber's NoteIllustrations have been moved near the relevant section of the text.Page numbers are documented as links within the source code.Inconsistencies have been retained in hyphenation and grammar, except where indicated in the list below.Here is a list of the minor typographical corrections made:"curiouly" changed to "curiously"Period added after "2""the the" changed to "the""avourable" changed to "favourable"Period moved from after "Chapter" to after "3""sucseeded" changed to "succeeded""succesfully" changed to "successfully""dfficult" changed to "difficult"Period added after "apart"Period added after "day""croocked" changed to "crooked""difficut" changed to "difficult""is is" changed to "is""an" changed to "and""ha" changed to "has""troub" changed to "trouble""alwasy" changed to "always"Comma removed after "Bench""its" changed to "it's""fnrther" changed to "further"Single quote changed to double quote after "Nature.""witten" changed to "written"
Illustrations have been moved near the relevant section of the text.
Page numbers are documented as links within the source code.
Inconsistencies have been retained in hyphenation and grammar, except where indicated in the list below.
Here is a list of the minor typographical corrections made:
"curiouly" changed to "curiously"Period added after "2""the the" changed to "the""avourable" changed to "favourable"Period moved from after "Chapter" to after "3""sucseeded" changed to "succeeded""succesfully" changed to "successfully""dfficult" changed to "difficult"Period added after "apart"Period added after "day""croocked" changed to "crooked""difficut" changed to "difficult""is is" changed to "is""an" changed to "and""ha" changed to "has""troub" changed to "trouble""alwasy" changed to "always"Comma removed after "Bench""its" changed to "it's""fnrther" changed to "further"Single quote changed to double quote after "Nature.""witten" changed to "written"