t, intending to inform the keeper, so that he
should meet Rushbrook. The time of meeting was arranged for two o'clock
in the morning. Rushbrook was certain that Byres would leave the
ale-house an hour or two before the time proposed, which would be more
than sufficient for his giving information to the keeper. He therefore
remained quietly at home till twelve o'clock, when he loaded his gun,
and went out without Joey or the dog. His wife perceiving this, was
convinced that he had not gone out with the intention to poach, but was
pursuing his scheme of revenge. She watched him after he left the
cottage, and observed that he had gone down in the direction of the
ale-house; and she was afraid that there would be mischief between him
and Byres, and she wakened Joey, desiring him to follow and watch his
father, and do all he could to prevent it. Her communication was made
in such a hurried manner, that it was difficult for Joey to know what he
was to do, except to watch his father's motions, and see what took
place. This Joey perfectly understood; and he was off in an instant,
followed, as usual, by Mum, and taking with him his sack. Our hero
crept softly down the pathway, in the direction of the ale-house. The
night was dark, for the moon did not rise till two or three hours before
the morning broke, and it was bitterly cold: but to darkness and cold
Joey had been accustomed, and although not seen himself; there was no
object could move without being scanned by his clear vision. He gained
a hedge close to the ale-house. Mum wanted to go on, by which Joey knew
that his father must be lurking somewhere near to him: he pressed the
dog down with his hand, crouched himself; and watched. In a few minutes
a dark figure was perceived by Joey to emerge from the ale-house, and
walk hastily over a turnip-field behind the premises: it had gained
about half over, when another form, which Joey recognised as his
father's, stealthily followed after the first. Joey waited a little
time, and was then, with Mum, on the steps of both; for a mile and a
half each party kept at their relative distances, until they came near a
furze bottom, which was about six hundred yards from the cover; then the
steps of Rushbrook were quickened, and those of Joey in proportion; the
consequence was, that the three parties rapidly neared each other.
Byres for it was he who had quitted the ale-house--walked along
leisurely, having no suspicion that he