nt.'

'Had you any reason for watching there?'

'There was a wire and a rabbit in it.'

'Well, what happened?'

'I waited a long time, and presently the defendant got over the gate. He
was very particular not to step on the soft mud by the gate--he kind of
leaped over it, not to leave the mark of his boots. He had a lurcher
with him, and I was afraid the dog would scent me in the hedge.'

'You rascal!' (from the defendant's wife).

'But he didn't, and, after looking carefully round, the defendant picked
up the rabbit, and put it and the wire in his pocket.'

'What did you do then?'

'I got out of the hedge and came towards him. Directly he saw me he ran
across the field; I whistled as loud as I could, and he' (jerking a
thumb back towards the head keeper) 'came out of the firs into the lane
and stopped him. We found the wire and the rabbit in his pocket, and two
more wires. I produce the wires.'

This was the sum of the evidence; the head keeper simply confirmed the
latter part of it. Oby replied that it was all false from beginning to
end. He had not got corduroy trousers on that day, as stated. He was not
there at all: he was in the village, and he could call witnesses to
prove it. The Clerk reminded the audience that there was such a thing as
imprisonment for perjury.

Then the defendant turned savagely on the first witness, and admitted
the truth of his statement by asking what he said when collared in the
lane. 'You said you had had a good lot lately, and didn't care if you
was nailed this time.'

'Oh, what awful lies!' cried the wife. 'It's a wonder you don't fall
dead!'

'You were not there,' the Clerk remarked quietly. 'Now, Oby, what is
your defence? Have you got any witnesses?'

'No; I ain't got no witnesses. All as I did, I know I walked up the
hedge to look for mushrooms. I saw one of them things'--meaning the
wires on the table--'and I just stooped down to see what it was, 'cos I
didn't know. I never seed one afore; and I was just going to pick it up
and look at it' (the magistrates glance at each other, and cannot
suppress a smile at this profound innocence), 'when this fellow jumped
out and frightened me. I never seed no rabbit.'

'Why, you put the rabbit in your pocket,' interrupts the first witness.

'Never mind,' said the Clerk to the witness; 'let him go on.'

'That's all as I got to say,' continues the defendant. 'I never seed no
such things afore; and if he hadn't come I should h