CONTENTS
| CHAP. | PAGE | |
| I. | At the “White Hart” | [1] |
| II. | Hangman’s Hut | [15] |
| III. | Guns in the Night | [27] |
| IV. | The Wedding Day | [40] |
| V. | A Ghost of a Chance | [53] |
| VI. | The Wedding Night | [70] |
| VII. | The Bad Ship “Peabody” | [85] |
| VIII. | Mr Sim tells a Lie | [99] |
| IX. | In Middlecott Lower Hundred | [116] |
| X. | Dan’s Letter | [130] |
| XI. | The Last of the “Peabody” | [146] |
| XII. | Henry Vivian tries to do His Duty | [160] |
| XIII. | The Obi Man | [177] |
| XIV. | Jesse’s Finger-nail | [195] |
| XV. | Daniel Explains | [210] |
| XVI. | “Obi” at Moreton | [225] |
| XVII. | The Confession | [238] |
| XVIII. | A Bottle of Champagne | [247] |
| XIX. | Mr Sim tells the Truth | [264] |
| XX. | Five Miles in Five Minutes | [279] |
| XXI. | Johnny Beer’s Masterpiece | [293] |
THE POACHER’S WIFE
CHAPTER I
AT THE “WHITE HART”
The bar of the “White Hart,” Moretonhampstead, was full, and, in the atmosphere of smoke and beer, a buzz of sound went up from many throats.
In one corner, round a table, men sat and laughed, but the object of their amusement did not share the fun. He was a powerful, bull-necked man with a clean-shorn face, grey whiskers, and dark eyes that shone brightly under pent-house brows, bushy and streaked with grey.
Mr Matthew Sweetland heard the chaff of his companions and looked grim. He was head gamekeeper at Middlecott Court, and no man had a worthier reputation. From his master to his subordinates, all spoke well of him. His life prospered; his autumn “tips” were a splendid secret known only to himself and his wife. He looked forward presently to retiring from the severe business of a gamekeeper and spending the end of life in peace. One thorn alone pricked Matthew; and from that there was no escape. His only son, Daniel Sweetland, had disappointed him. The keeper’s wife strove to make her husband more sanguine; neighbours all foretold pleasant things concerning Daniel; but the lad’s reputation was not good. His knowledge of sport and his passion for sport had taken a sinister turn. They were spiced with a love of adventure and very vague ideas on the law of property. Flogging had not eradicated these instincts. When the time came to make choice of a trade, Daniel decided against gamekeeping.