The Argosy — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

Caramel Cottage. ‘em her father, in high leggings and a large old shooting-coat, no doubt borrowed plumes. Each of them carried a gun, and they stole cautiously out at the little side gate. “Oh,” moaned the unhappy Katrine, ‘if papa would but take better care of himself! If he would but leave off doing this most dreadful and dangerous thing !” Whether Katrine fell asleep after that, or not, she could never decide: it appeared as though but a short time had elapsed, when she was startled by a sharp sound outside, close to the house. It might have been the report of a gun, but she was not sure. This was followed by some stir in the yard and covert talking. ‘They are bringing in the game they have shot,” thought Katrine, ‘but oh, I am thankful they have got back in safety!” And she put the pillow over her head and ears, and lay shivering. Squire Todhetley was as good and lenient a man at heart as could be found in our two counties, Warwickshire and Worcester- shire ; fonder of forgiving sins and sinners than of bringing them to book, and you have not read of him all these years without learning it. But there was one offence that stirred his anger up to bub- bling point, especially when committed against himself. And that was poaching. So that, when we got downstairs to breakfast at Dyke Manor on the following morning, Wednesday, and were greeted with the news that some poachers had been out on our land in the night, and had shot at the keepers, it was no wonder the Squire went into a state of commotion, and that the rest of us partook of it. “Johnny, tell Mack to fetch Jones; to bring him here instantly,” fumed he. ‘‘‘Those Standishes have been in this work !” I went to carry the orders to Mack in the yard. In passing back, after giving them, I saw that the dog-kennel was empty and the chain lying loose. ‘“Where’s Don?” I asked. ‘Who has taken him out ?” “Guess he have strayed out of hisself, Master Johnny,” was Mack’s answer. ‘‘ He was gone when I come on this morning, sir, and the gate were standing wide open.” “Gone then ?—and the gate open? Where’s Giles ?” ‘But, even as I put the question, I caught sight of Giles at the stable pump, plunging his head and face into a pail of water. So I knew what had been the matter with Az. Giles was a first-rate groom and a good servant, and it was very seldom indeed that he took more than was good for him, but it did happen at intervals. Old Jones arrived in obedience to the summons, and stood on his | fat gouty legs in the hall while the Squire talked to him. ‘The faith . he put in that old constable was surprising, whose skill and discern- ment were about suited to the year One. His tale of the night’s doings, as confirmed by other tales, was not CORNICLIOO cs (CO) mm .