heard the poachers were out, determined to come with me.” “I beg yer honour’s pardon,” returned the keeper, touching his hat as he recognised his master. “I never expected to ha’ seen you here to-night, to be sure.” “I am usually to be found where my duty calls me,” returned the General stiffly. “These scoundrels seem to be out in force,” he continued. “Veil, I take it there’s as many on ’em as ve shall know wot to do with,” was the reply; “but I’ve got above a dozen men on the look-hout, only in course they’re scattered.” “And how do you propose to act?” inquired the General. “I thort of taking a party into the wood, trying to captiwate long Hardy and one or two of the ringleaders, chaps as I’ve had my eye on for ever so long; then take ther game from the tothers, and seize their guns hif posserbul. But the chief thing is to captiwate that willain Hardy; so I means to leave three or four men on the look-hout, in case he manages to do us and break cover.” “Your plan seems a good one,” returned the General reflectively. “How many men do you propose to take into the wood with you?” “Veil, there’s half-a-dozen lads a laying down behind those bushes yonder, and there’s two more jist inside that gap; then there’s myself and Muster Arundel.” “Let the boy that guided us hold my horse,” began General Grant. “Hif I might adwise,” interrupted Millar, “yer honour would remain in this wery place; and hif Hardy should get away from us--as he’s likely enough, for he’s as strong and houdacious as a steam-ingine--he’s a-most sure to break cover here; in vich case yer honour can ride him down, and hif he dares to show fight, give him a cut hover the skull with yer long sword there.” “You feel sure he will endeavour to effect his retreat on this side?” inquired the General doubtingly. “Sartain sure, I may say,” cried Millar confidently; then, as his master turned to explain to Lord Bellefield, who had just come up, the plan of operations, he added in a low voice, so that Lewis only might hear-- “The old Gineral’s pluckey enough for anything, but his legs ain’t so young as they used to be, and he’s rather touched in the vind, vich von’t do for sich a valk as we’ve got before us.” At this moment more shots were heard in the wood, but apparently much nearer than the last. The poachers were evidently advancing in that direction. “There is not a moment to be lost, Millar,” exclaimed the General eagerly. “I think as you say, I may be of more use here. Some one _must_ remain outside to cut off the retreat of these fellows if you should succeed in driving them out of the wood. Lord Bellefield will accompany your party. Where are the other watchers on this side stationed?”