The Argosy — page 282: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

268 The Key of the Church. “Not believe it!” returned Jones, aghast at the bold assertion. “Why, young Mr. Todhetley, the whole parish is a-ringing with it. There’s Gisby a-dying at Shepherd’s—the place he were carried to ; and Shepherd himself saw young Mr. Fred fire off the gun.” ‘“‘ What became of the rascally poachers?” asked the Squire. “ They got clean off, sir, every one on’em. And they couldn’t be recognised, for they had blackened their faces. Master Fred was the only one who'd not disguised hisself ; which was just like his boldness.” There was not much more breakfast for us. Tod rushed off, and I after him. The particulars appeared to be as old Jones had related. Gisby, taking Shepherd—who was the herdsman on the N. D. Farm —with him, and another man named Ford, had gone out to watch for poachers ; had met half a dozen of them, including Fred Westerbrook, and Fred had shot Gisby. The Silver Bear stood in the middle of Church Dykely, next door to Perkins the butcher's. It was kept by Henry Rimmer. We made for it, wondering whether Rimmer could tell us anything. He was in the tap-room, polishing the taps. “ Qh, it’s true enough, young gentlemen,” he said, as we burst in upon him with the question. ‘And a dreadful thing it is. One can’t help pitying young Mr. Westerbrook.” ‘Look here, Rimmer. Do you believe he did it ?” ‘Why, in course he did, Master Johnny. There was no difficulty in knowing him: he was the only one of ’em not disguised. Shepherd says the night was as light as day. Mr. Fred had his supper here, and went out after it.” “Did he come in later?” asked Tod. ‘No, never,” replied Rimmer, lowering his voice, as a man sometimes does when speaking very seriously. ‘‘ He never came in again.” “Where can he be hiding himself? ” “ He’s safe inside the place of one or other of the poachers, I should say,” nodded the landlord. ‘‘ Not that it would be safe for him or for them, if it could be found out who the villains were. I think I could: give a guess at two or three of them.” ‘So could I,” said Tod. ‘‘ Dick Standish was one, I know. And Jelf another. Of course, their haunts will be searched. Don’t you think, Rimmer, Mr. Fred Westerbrook would rather make off, than run the risk of concealing himself in any one of them?” Rimmer shook his head. “I don’t know about that, sir. He might not be able to make off. It’s thought he was wounded.” “Wounded !” “‘Gisby fired his own gun in the act of falling, and Shepherd thinks the charge hit young Mr. Westerbrook. The poachers were running off then, and Shepherd saw.them halt in a kind of heap, like, and he 1s positive that the one on the ground was Mr. Westerbrook. For that ecomniclooolkks (CO) ———