[Illustration: "THE MAN TURNED AT ONCE, AND SPRANG AT HIM LIKE A TIGER."]
But as the men came nearer, in the foremost he recognized Walter Grange, and at the same moment saw his late antagonist plunge wildly into the ice-cold pond, and begin to wade and swim across it.
"Cuss him! I durst not do it," gasped Walter, just too late, and mindful, even in his passionate disappointment, of rheumatic pains. "Dash after him, Bob, while Mr. Yorke and I run round."
But Bob had had the rheumatism too, or had seen the unpleasant effects of it in others, and shook his shaggy head.
A mocking laugh burst from the poacher, already nearing the opposite bank.
"Dang him! If I'd got a gun, I'd shoot him. Run, man!" cried Walter, excitedly--"run, man, run! He can never get along in his wet clothes." And off the two men started in hot pursuit.
Yorke watched them toiling round the pond, while the poacher landed, shook himself like any water-dog, and leisurely trotted off.
"It was lucky for him," murmured he, as he replaced his weapon in his pocket, "that the help came on _my_ side;" then lit his pipe, and leisurely walked home.
Three hours later returned the keeper (for whose arrival he had been sitting up), with twinkling eye and a look of triumph.
"Well, you caught the beggar, did you, Grange?"
"Oh yes, we caught him fast enough," responded the other, grinning; "we caught the whole lot of them. And who d'ye think they were? Why, it was the whole party from the house, as had come out to play at poachers! Who ever heard of such a game? Some on 'em got it hot, I reckon, in the new spinney yonder. But _that_ was no matter. We've all had our skins full of rum punch, and a sov. apiece, because Squire says we proved ourselves good watch-dogs. And here," continued the old man, exultingly, "are a couple of sovs. for yourself. 'Give them to that tall young fellow,' says Squire, 'as you posted by the Decoy Pond, for he knows how to use his fists.' Why, that 'ere chap as you had the tussle with was Carew hisself!"
A deadly paleness overspread the young man's cheeks.
"Yes, indeed, it was; though none of us know'd it. You needn't look so skeared. He ain't annoyed with you; he's pleased, bless 'ee, and here's the proof of it."