One of the twain, meantime, was occupied in feeling for the deer’s fat, when he was approached by the other, who pointed in the direction of the house. The former raised himself from his kneeling posture, and both appeared to listen attentively. Luke fancied he heard a slight sound in the distance; whatever the noise proceeded from, it was evident the deer-stealers were alarmed. They laid hold of the buck, and, dragging it along, concealed the carcase among the tall fern; they then retreated, halting for an instant to deliberate, within a few yards of Luke, who was concealed from their view by the trunk of the tree, behind which he had ensconced his person. They were so near, that he lost not a word of their muttered conference.
“The game’s spoiled this time, Rob Rust, anyhow,” growled one, in an angry tone; “the hawks are upon us, and we must leave this brave buck to take care of himself. Curse him!—who’d a’thought of Hugh Badger’s quitting his bed to-night? Respect for his late master might have kept him quiet the night before the funeral. But look out, lad. Dost see ’em?”
“Ay, thanks to old Oliver—yonder they are,” returned the other. “One—two—three—and a muzzled bouser to boot. There’s Hugh at the head on ’em. Shall we stand and show fight? I have half a mind for it.”
“No, no,” replied the first speaker; “that will never do, Rob—no fighting. Why run the risk of being grabb’d for a haunch of venison? Had Luke Bradley or Jack Palmer been with us, it might have been another affair. As it is, it won’t pay. Besides, we’ve that to do at the hall to-morrow night that may make men of us for the rest of our nat’ral lives. We’ve pledged ourselves to Jack Palmer, and we can’t be off in honour. It won’t do to be snabbled in the nick of it. So let’s make for the prad in the lane. Keep in the shade as much as you can. Come along, my hearty.” And away the two worthies scampered down the hill-side.
“Shall I follow,” thought Luke, “and run the risk of falling into the keeper’s hand, just at this crisis, too? No, but if I am found here, I shall be taken for one of the gang. Something must be done—ha!—devil take them, here they are already.”
Further time was not allowed him for reflection. A hoarse baying was heard, followed by a loud cry from the keepers. The dog had scented out the game; and, as secrecy was no longer necessary, his muzzle had been removed. To rush forth now were certain betrayal; to remain was almost equally assured detection; and, doubting whether he should obtain credence if he delivered himself over in that garb and armed, Luke at once rejected the idea. Just then it flashed across his recollection that his gun had remained unloaded, and he applied himself eagerly to repair this negligence, when he heard the dog in full cry, making swiftly in his direction. He threw himself upon the ground, where the fern was thickest; but this seemed insufficient to baffle the sagacity of the hound—the animal had got his scent, and was baying close at hand. The keepers were drawing nigh. Luke gave himself up for lost. The dog, however, stopped where the two poachers had halted, and was there completely at fault: snuffing the ground, he bayed, wheeled round, and then set off with renewed barking upon their track. Hugh Badger and his comrades loitered an instant at the same place, looked warily round, and then, as Luke conjectured, followed the course taken by the hound.
Swift as thought, Luke arose, and keeping as much as possible under cover of the trees, started in a cross line for the lane. Rapid as was his flight, it was not without a witness: one of the keeper’s assistants, who had lagged behind, gave the view-halloa in a loud voice. Luke pressed forward with redoubled energy, endeavouring to gain the shelter of the plantation, and this he could readily have accomplished, had no impediment been in his way. But his rage and vexation were boundless, when he heard the keeper’s cry echoed by shouts immediately below him, and the tongue of the hound resounding in the hollow. He turned sharply round, steering a middle course, and still aiming at the fence. It was evident, from the cheers of his pursuers, that he was in full view, and he heard them encouraging and directing the dog.