ock."

"D----, has he turned thief-taker? Does he mean to catch the poachers
himself? Well, if that is not a queer dodge for a gentleman."

"He would not be a bad hand," said I laughing; "No, no. The coach puts
him down there on his return from I----, and I promised to see him safe
home."

"Safe home! Why, man, 'tis only a mile from the hall. Is he afraid of
ghosts?"

"Not at all," I said, dropping my voice. "No one who knows Squire
Carlos, could ever take him for a coward. But there are a great many
suspicious characters in the neighbourhood, and the Squire returns with
a large sum of money on his person. He was afraid that he might be
robbed in that lonely place, and he asked me, as a particular favour, to
meet him there with my gun."

"A large sum of money did you say?" and the poacher drew nearer and
gazed upon me with an eager and excited stare. "Does he often travel
abroad with such sums about him?"

"Not often. This is a particular case--it is the price of the farm he
sold lately, Crawford's farm, and he wants the money to make another
purchase. Perhaps he will have with him a couple of thousand pounds."

"You don't say--and you are to meet him at the second avenue gate at
eleven o'clock?"

"So I promised. But don't, there's a good fellow, mention it to any one.
I would not for the world be thought to blab my master's secrets. He
would never forgive me, if it came to his ears. To tell you the truth, I
don't much like the job. I would rather have a jolly day with the club
at S----. I am sure we should win the match."

"I thought the coach came in at ten?" said Adam, still dreaming over the
vision of gold.

"Not on market-nights. It is always late. Eleven was the hour he
appointed."

"Oh, of course, he knows best. And such a large sum of money! I would
not venture on the road with twenty shiners in my pocket. But two
thousand! The man's a fool. Good day, Noah--don't raise a bad report
against my poor dog. You know the old proverb--'Give a dog a bad name.'
Two thousand pounds--my eye, what a sum!"

Away trudged the poacher, with the game-destroyer at his heels. I sat
down upon a stile, and looked after him. I was sure of my man.

"Go your ways to Bill Martin," said I. "Tell him the tale I have told to
you, and between us, Mr. Carlos has small chance of sleeping on a
feather-bed to-morrow night."

I felt certain that an attempt would be made to rob Mr. Carlos by these
ruffians. I read it in the fel