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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12209 ***
+
+ODD CRAFT
+
+By W.W. Jacobs
+
+
+
+THE PERSECUTION OF BOB PRETTY
+
+The old man sat on his accustomed bench outside the Cauliflower.  A
+generous measure of beer stood in a blue and white jug by his elbow, and
+little wisps of smoke curled slowly upward from the bowl of his
+churchwarden pipe.  The knapsacks of two young men lay where they were
+flung on the table, and the owners, taking a noon-tide rest, turned a
+polite, if bored, ear to the reminiscences of grateful old age.
+
+Poaching, said the old man, who had tried topics ranging from early
+turnips to horseshoeing--poaching ain't wot it used to be in these 'ere
+parts.  Nothing is like it used to be, poaching nor anything else; but
+that there man you might ha' noticed as went out about ten minutes ago
+and called me "Old Truthfulness" as 'e passed is the worst one I know.
+Bob Pretty 'is name is, and of all the sly, artful, deceiving men that
+ever lived in Claybury 'e is the worst--never did a honest day's work in
+'is life and never wanted the price of a glass of ale.
+
+[Illustration: "Poaching," said the old man, "ain't wot it used to be in
+these 'ere parts."]
+
+Bob Pretty's worst time was just after old Squire Brown died.  The old
+squire couldn't afford to preserve much, but by-and-by a gentleman with
+plenty o' money, from London, named Rockett, took 'is place and things
+began to look up.  Pheasants was 'is favourites, and 'e spent no end o'
+money rearing of 'em, but anything that could be shot at suited 'im, too.
+
+He started by sneering at the little game that Squire Brown 'ad left, but
+all 'e could do didn't seem to make much difference; things disappeared
+in a most eggstrordinary way, and the keepers went pretty near crazy,
+while the things the squire said about Claybury and Claybury men was
+disgraceful.
+
+Everybody knew as it was Bob Pretty and one or two of 'is mates from
+other places, but they couldn't prove it.  They couldn't catch 'im nohow,
+and at last the squire 'ad two keepers set off to watch 'im by night and
+by day.
+
+Bob Pretty wouldn't believe it; he said 'e couldn't.  And even when it
+was pointed out to 'im that Keeper Lewis was follering of 'im he said
+that it just 'appened he was going the same way, that was all.  And
+sometimes 'e'd get up in the middle of the night and go for a fifteen-
+mile walk 'cos 'e'd got the toothache, and Mr. Lewis, who 'adn't got it,
+had to tag along arter 'im till he was fit to drop.  O' course, it was
+one keeper the less to look arter the game, and by-and-by the squire see
+that and took 'im off.
+
+All the same they kept a pretty close watch on Bob, and at last one
+arternoon they sprang out on 'im as he was walking past Gray's farm, and
+asked him wot it was he 'ad in his pockets.
+
+"That's my bisness, Mr. Lewis," ses Bob Pretty.
+
+Mr. Smith, the other keeper, passed 'is hands over Bob's coat and felt
+something soft and bulgy.
+
+"You take your 'ands off of me," ses Bob; "you don't know 'ow partikler I
+am."
+
+He jerked 'imself away, but they caught 'old of 'im agin, and Mr. Lewis
+put 'is hand in his inside pocket and pulled out two brace o' partridges.
+
+"You'll come along of us," he ses, catching 'im by the arm.
+
+"We've been looking for you a long time," ses Keeper Smith, "and it's a
+pleasure for us to 'ave your company."
+
+Bob Pretty said 'e wouldn't go, but they forced 'im along and took 'im
+all the way to Cudford, four miles off, so that Policeman White could
+lock 'im up for the night.  Mr. White was a'most as pleased as the
+keepers, and 'e warned Bob solemn not to speak becos all 'e said would be
+used agin 'im.
+
+"Never mind about that," ses Bob Pretty.  "I've got a clear conscience,
+and talking can't 'urt me.  I'm very glad to see you, Mr. White; if these
+two clever, experienced keepers hadn't brought me I should 'ave looked
+you up myself.  They've been and stole my partridges."
+
+Them as was standing round laughed, and even Policeman White couldn't
+'elp giving a little smile.
+
+"There's nothing to laugh at," ses Bob, 'olding his 'ead up.  "It's a
+fine thing when a working man--a 'ardworking man--can't take home a
+little game for 'is family without being stopped and robbed."
+
+"I s'pose they flew into your pocket?" ses Police-man White.
+
+"No, they didn't," ses Bob.  "I'm not going to tell any lies about it;
+I put 'em there.  The partridges in my inside coat-pocket and the bill in
+my waistcoat-pocket."
+
+"The bill?" ses Keeper Lewis, staring at 'im.
+
+"Yes, the bill," ses Bob Pretty, staring back at 'im; "the bill from Mr.
+Keen, the poulterer, at Wick-ham."
+
+He fetched it out of 'is pocket and showed it to Mr. White, and the
+keepers was like madmen a'most 'cos it was plain to see that Bob Pretty
+'ad been and bought them partridges just for to play a game on 'em.
+
+"I was curious to know wot they tasted like," he ses to the policeman.
+"Worst of it is, I don't s'pose my pore wife'll know 'ow to cook 'em."
+
+"You get off 'ome," ses Policeman White, staring at 'im.
+
+"But ain't I goin' to be locked up?"  ses Bob.  "'Ave I been brought all
+this way just to 'ave a little chat with a policeman I don't like."
+
+"You go 'ome," ses Policeman White, handing the partridges back to 'im.
+
+"All right," ses Bob, "and I may 'ave to call you to witness that these
+'ere two men laid hold o' me and tried to steal my partridges.  I shall
+go up and see my loryer about it."
+
+He walked off 'ome with his 'ead up as high as 'e could hold it, and the
+airs 'e used to give 'imself arter this was terrible for to behold.  He
+got 'is eldest boy to write a long letter to the squire about it, saying
+that 'e'd overlook it this time, but 'e couldn't promise for the future.
+Wot with Bob Pretty on one side and Squire Rockett on the other, them two
+keepers' lives was 'ardly worth living.
+
+Then the squire got a head-keeper named Cutts, a man as was said to know
+more about the ways of poachers than they did themselves.  He was said to
+'ave cleared out all the poachers for miles round the place 'e came from,
+and pheasants could walk into people's cottages and not be touched.
+
+He was a sharp-looking man, tall and thin, with screwed-up eyes and a
+little red beard.  The second day 'e came 'e was up here at this 'ere
+Cauliflower, having a pint o' beer and looking round at the chaps as he
+talked to the landlord.  The odd thing was that men who'd never taken a
+hare or a pheasant in their lives could 'ardly meet 'is eye, while Bob
+Pretty stared at 'im as if 'e was a wax-works.
+
+"I 'ear you 'ad a little poaching in these parts afore I came," ses Mr.
+Cutts to the landlord.
+
+"I think I 'ave 'eard something o' the kind," ses the landlord, staring
+over his 'ead with a far-away look in 'is eyes.
+
+"You won't hear of much more," ses the keeper.  "I've invented a new way
+of catching the dirty rascals; afore I came 'ere I caught all the
+poachers on three estates.  I clear 'em out just like a ferret clears
+out rats."
+
+"Sort o' man-trap?" ses the landlord.
+
+"Ah, that's tellings," ses Mr. Cutts.
+
+"Well, I 'ope you'll catch 'em here," ses Bob Pretty; "there's far too
+many of 'em about for my liking.  Far too many."
+
+"I shall 'ave 'em afore long," ses Mr. Cutts, nodding his 'ead.
+
+[Illustration: "I shall 'ave 'em afore long,' ses Mr. Cutts."]
+
+"Your good 'ealth," ses Bob Pretty, holding up 'is mug.  "We've been
+wanting a man like you for a long time."
+
+"I don't want any of your impidence, my man," ses the keeper.  "I've
+'eard about you, and nothing good either.  You be careful."
+
+"I am careful," ses Bob, winking at the others.  "I 'ope you'll catch all
+them low poaching chaps; they give the place a bad name, and I'm a'most
+afraid to go out arter dark for fear of meeting 'em."
+
+Peter Gubbins and Sam Jones began to laugh, but Bob Pretty got angry with
+'em and said he didn't see there was anything to laugh at.  He said that
+poaching was a disgrace to their native place, and instead o' laughing
+they ought to be thankful to Mr. Cutts for coming to do away with it all.
+
+"Any help I can give you shall be given cheerful," he ses to the keeper.
+
+"When I want your help I'll ask you for it," ses Mr. Cutts.
+
+"Thankee," ses Bob Pretty.  "I on'y 'ope I sha'n't get my face knocked
+about like yours 'as been, that's all; 'cos my wife's so partikler."
+
+"Wot d'ye mean?"  ses Mr. Cutts, turning on him.  "My face ain't been
+knocked about."
+
+"Oh, I beg your pardin," ses Bob; "I didn't know it was natural."
+
+Mr. Cutts went black in the face a'most and stared at Bob Pretty as if 'e
+was going to eat 'im, and Bob stared back, looking fust at the keeper's
+nose and then at 'is eyes and mouth, and then at 'is nose agin.
+
+"You'll know me agin, I s'pose?" ses Mr. Cutts, at last.
+
+"Yes," ses Bob, smiling; "I should know you a mile off--on the darkest
+night."
+
+"We shall see," ses Mr. Cutts, taking up 'is beer and turning 'is back on
+him.  "Those of us as live the longest'll see the most."
+
+"I'm glad I've lived long enough to see 'im," ses Bob to Bill Chambers.
+"I feel more satisfied with myself now."
+
+Bill Chambers coughed, and Mr. Cutts, arter finishing 'is beer, took
+another look at Bob Pretty, and went off boiling a'most.
+
+The trouble he took to catch Bob Pretty arter that you wouldn't believe,
+and all the time the game seemed to be simply melting away, and Squire
+Rockett was finding fault with 'im all day long.  He was worn to a
+shadder a'most with watching, and Bob Pretty seemed to be more prosperous
+than ever.
+
+Sometimes Mr. Cutts watched in the plantations, and sometimes 'e hid
+'imself near Bob's house, and at last one night, when 'e was crouching
+behind the fence of Frederick Scott's front garden, 'e saw Bob Pretty
+come out of 'is house and, arter a careful look round, walk up the road.
+He held 'is breath as Bob passed 'im, and was just getting up to foller
+'im when Bob stopped and walked slowly back agin, sniffing.
+
+"Wot a delicious smell o' roses!"  he ses, out loud.
+
+He stood in the middle o' the road nearly opposite where the keeper was
+hiding, and sniffed so that you could ha' 'eard him the other end o' the
+village.
+
+"It can't be roses," he ses, in a puzzled voice, "be-cos there ain't no
+roses hereabouts, and, besides, it's late for 'em.  It must be Mr. Cutts,
+the clever new keeper."
+
+He put his 'ead over the fence and bid 'im good evening, and said wot a
+fine night for a stroll it was, and asked 'im whether 'e was waiting for
+Frederick Scott's aunt.  Mr. Cutts didn't answer 'im a word; 'e was
+pretty near bursting with passion.  He got up and shook 'is fist in Bob
+Pretty's face, and then 'e went off stamping down the road as if 'e was
+going mad.
+
+And for a time Bob Pretty seemed to 'ave all the luck on 'is side.
+Keeper Lewis got rheumatic fever, which 'e put down to sitting about
+night arter night in damp places watching for Bob, and, while 'e was in
+the thick of it, with the doctor going every day, Mr. Cutts fell in
+getting over a fence and broke 'is leg.  Then all the work fell on Keeper
+Smith, and to 'ear 'im talk you'd think that rheumatic fever and broken
+legs was better than anything else in the world.  He asked the squire for
+'elp, but the squire wouldn't give it to 'im, and he kept telling 'im wot
+a feather in 'is cap it would be if 'e did wot the other two couldn't do,
+and caught Bob Pretty.  It was all very well, but, as Smith said, wot 'e
+wanted was feathers in 'is piller, instead of 'aving to snatch a bit o'
+sleep in 'is chair or sitting down with his 'ead agin a tree.  When I
+tell you that 'e fell asleep in this public-'ouse one night while the
+landlord was drawing a pint o' beer he 'ad ordered, you'll know wot 'e
+suffered.
+
+O' course, all this suited Bob Pretty as well as could be, and 'e was
+that good-tempered 'e'd got a nice word for everybody, and when Bill
+Chambers told 'im 'e was foolhardy 'e only laughed and said 'e knew wot
+'e was about.
+
+But the very next night 'e had reason to remember Bill Chambers's words.
+He was walking along Farmer Hall's field--the one next to the squire's
+plantation--and, so far from being nervous, 'e was actually a-whistling.
+He'd got a sack over 'is shoulder, loaded as full as it could be, and 'e
+'ad just stopped to light 'is pipe when three men burst out o' the
+plantation and ran toward 'im as 'ard as they could run.
+
+[Illustration: "Three men burst out o' the plantation."]
+
+Bob Pretty just gave one look and then 'e dropped 'is pipe and set off
+like a hare.  It was no good dropping the sack, because Smith, the
+keeper, 'ad recognised 'im and called 'im by name, so 'e just put 'is
+teeth together and did the best he could, and there's no doubt that if it
+'adn't ha' been for the sack 'e could 'ave got clear away.
+
+As it was, 'e ran for pretty near a mile, and they could 'ear 'im
+breathing like a pair o' bellows; but at last 'e saw that the game was
+up.  He just man-aged to struggle as far as Farmer Pinnock's pond, and
+then, waving the sack round his 'ead, 'e flung it into the middle of it,
+and fell down gasping for breath.
+
+"Got--you--this time--Bob Pretty," ses one o' the men, as they came up.
+
+"Wot--Mr. Cutts?"  ses Bob, with a start.  "That's me, my man," ses the
+keeper.
+
+"Why--I thought--you was.  Is that Mr. Lewis?  It can't be."
+
+"That's me," ses Keeper Lewis.  "We both got well sudden-like, Bob
+Pretty, when we 'eard you was out.  You ain't so sharp as you thought you
+was."
+
+Bob Pretty sat still, getting 'is breath back and doing a bit o' thinking
+at the same time.
+
+"You give me a start," he ses, at last.  "I thought you was both in bed,
+and, knowing 'ow hard worked Mr. Smith 'as been, I just came round to
+'elp 'im keep watch like.  I promised to 'elp you, Mr. Cutts, if you
+remember."
+
+"Wot was that you threw in the pond just now?" ses Mr. Cutts.
+
+"A sack," ses Bob Pretty; "a sack I found in Farmer Hall's field.  It
+felt to me as though it might 'ave birds in it, so I picked it up, and I
+was just on my way to your 'ouse with it, Mr. Cutts, when you started
+arter me."
+
+"Ah!" ses the keeper, "and wot did you run for?"
+
+Bob Pretty tried to laugh.  "Becos I thought it was the poachers arter
+me," he ses.  "It seems ridikilous, don't it?"
+
+"Yes, it does," ses Lewis.
+
+"I thought you'd know me a mile off," ses Mr. Cutts.  "I should ha'
+thought the smell o' roses would ha' told you I was near."
+
+Bob Pretty scratched 'is 'ead and looked at 'im out of the corner of 'is
+eye, but he 'adn't got any answer.  Then 'e sat biting his finger-nails
+and thinking while the keepers stood argyfying as to who should take 'is
+clothes off and go into the pond arter the pheasants.  It was a very cold
+night and the pond was pretty deep in places, and none of 'em seemed
+anxious.
+
+"Make 'im go in for it," ses Lewis, looking at Bob; "'e chucked it in."
+
+"On'y Becos I thought you was poachers," ses Bob.  "I'm sorry to 'ave
+caused so much trouble."
+
+"Well, you go in and get it out," ses Lewis, who pretty well guessed
+who'd 'ave to do it if Bob didn't.  "It'll look better for you, too."
+
+"I've got my defence all right," ses Bob Pretty.  "I ain't set a foot on
+the squire's preserves, and I found this sack a 'undred yards away from
+it."
+
+"Don't waste more time," ses Mr. Cutts to Lewis.
+
+"Off with your clothes and in with you.  Anybody'd think you was afraid
+of a little cold water."
+
+"Whereabouts did 'e pitch it in?"  ses Lewis.
+
+Bob Pretty pointed with 'is finger exactly where 'e thought it was, but
+they wouldn't listen to 'im, and then Lewis, arter twice saying wot a bad
+cold he'd got, took 'is coat off very slow and careful.
+
+[Illustration: "Bob Pretty pointed with 'is finger exactly where 'e
+thought it was."]
+
+"I wouldn't mind going in to oblige you," ses Bob Pretty, "but the pond
+is so full o' them cold, slimy efts; I don't fancy them crawling up agin
+me, and, besides that, there's such a lot o' deep holes in it.  And
+wotever you do don't put your 'ead under; you know 'ow foul that water
+is."
+
+Keeper Lewis pretended not to listen to 'im.  He took off 'is clothes
+very slowly and then 'e put one foot in and stood shivering, although
+Smith, who felt the water with his 'and, said it was quite warm.  Then
+Lewis put the other foot in and began to walk about careful, 'arf-way up
+to 'is knees.
+
+"I can't find it," he ses, with 'is teeth chattering.
+
+"You 'aven't looked," ses Mr. Cutts; "walk about more; you can't expect
+to find it all at once.  Try the middle."
+
+Lewis tried the middle, and 'e stood there up to 'is neck, feeling about
+with his foot and saying things out loud about Bob Pretty, and other
+things under 'is breath about Mr. Cutts.
+
+"Well, I'm going off 'ome," ses Bob Pretty, getting up.  "I'm too
+tender-'arted to stop and see a man drownded."
+
+"You stay 'ere," ses Mr. Cutts, catching 'old of him.
+
+"Wot for?" ses Bob; "you've got no right to keep me 'ere."
+
+"Catch 'old of 'im, Joe," ses Mr. Cutts, quick-like.
+
+Smith caught 'old of his other arm, and Lewis left off trying to find the
+sack to watch the struggle.  Bob Pretty fought 'ard, and once or twice 'e
+nearly tumbled Mr. Cutts into the pond, but at last 'e gave in and lay
+down panting and talking about 'is loryer.  Smith 'eld him down on the
+ground while Mr. Cutts kept pointing out places with 'is finger for Lewis
+to walk to.  The last place 'e pointed to wanted a much taller man, but
+it wasn't found out till too late, and the fuss Keeper Lewis made when 'e
+could speak agin was terrible.
+
+"You'd better come out," ses Mr. Cutts; "you ain't doing no good.  We
+know where they are and we'll watch the pond till daylight--that is,
+unless Smith 'ud like to 'ave a try."
+
+"It's pretty near daylight now, I think," ses Smith.
+
+Lewis came out and ran up and down to dry 'imself, and finished off on
+'is pocket-'andkerchief, and then with 'is teeth chattering 'e began to
+dress 'imself.  He got 'is shirt on, and then 'e stood turning over 'is
+clothes as if 'e was looking for something.
+
+"Never mind about your stud now," ses Mr. Cutts; "hurry up and dress."
+
+"Stud?" ses Lewis, very snappish.  "I'm looking for my trowsis."
+
+"Your trowsis?" ses Smith, 'elping 'im look.
+
+"I put all my clothes together," ses Lewis, a'most shouting.  "Where are
+they?  I'm 'arf perished with cold.  Where are they?"
+
+"He 'ad 'em on this evening," ses Bob Pretty, "'cos I remember noticing
+'em."
+
+"They must be somewhere about," ses Mr. Cutts; "why don't you use your
+eyes?"
+
+He walked up and down, peering about, and as for Lewis he was 'opping
+round 'arf crazy.
+
+"I wonder," ses Bob Pretty, in a thoughtful voice, to Smith--"I wonder
+whether you or Mr. Cutts kicked 'em in the pond while you was struggling
+with me.  Come to think of it, I seem to remember 'earing a splash."
+
+"He's done it, Mr. Cutts," ses Smith; "never mind, it'll go all the
+'arder with 'im."
+
+"But I do mind," ses Lewis, shouting.  "I'll be even with you for this,
+Bob Pretty.  I'll make you feel it.  You wait till I've done with you.
+You'll get a month extra for this, you see if you don't."
+
+"Don't you mind about me," ses Bob; "you run off 'ome and cover up them
+legs of yours.  I found that sack, so my conscience is clear."
+
+Lewis put on 'is coat and waistcoat and set off, and Mr. Cutts and Smith,
+arter feeling about for a dry place, set theirselves down and began to
+smoke.
+
+"Look 'ere," ses Bob Pretty, "I'm not going to sit 'ere all night to
+please you; I'm going off 'ome.  If you want me you'll know where to find
+me."
+
+"You stay where you are," ses Mr. Cutts.  "We ain't going to let you out
+of our sight."
+
+"Very well, then, you take me 'ome," ses Bob.  "I'm not going to catch my
+death o' cold sitting 'ere.  I'm not used to being out of a night like
+you are.  I was brought up respectable."
+
+"I dare say," ses Mr. Cutts.  "Take you 'ome, and then 'ave one o' your
+mates come and get the sack while we're away."
+
+Then Bob Pretty lost 'is temper, and the things 'e said about Mr. Cutts
+wasn't fit for Smith to 'ear.  He threw 'imself down at last full length
+on the ground and sulked till the day broke.
+
+Keeper Lewis was there a'most as soon as it was light, with some long
+hay-rakes he'd borrowed, and I should think that pretty near 'arf the
+folks in Clay-bury 'ad turned up to see the fun.  Mrs. Pretty was crying
+and wringing 'er 'ands; but most folks seemed to be rather pleased that
+Bob 'ad been caught at last.
+
+In next to no time 'arf-a-dozen rakes was at work, and the things they
+brought out o' that pond you wouldn't believe.  The edge of it was all
+littered with rusty tin pails and saucepans and such-like, and by-and-by
+Lewis found the things he'd 'ad to go 'ome without a few hours afore, but
+they didn't seem to find that sack, and Bob Pretty, wot was talking to
+'is wife, began to look 'opeful.
+
+But just then the squire came riding up with two friends as was staying
+with 'im, and he offered a reward of five shillings to the man wot found
+it.  Three or four of 'em waded in up to their middle then and raked
+their 'ardest, and at last Henery Walker give a cheer and brought it to
+the side, all heavy with water.
+
+"That's the sack I found, sir," ses Bob, starting up.  "It wasn't on your
+land at all, but on the field next to it.  I'm an honest, 'ardworking
+man, and I've never been in trouble afore.  Ask anybody 'ere and they'll
+tell you the same."
+
+Squire Rockett took no notice of 'im.  "Is that the sack?"  he asks,
+turning to Mr. Cutts.
+
+"That's the one, sir," ses Mr. Cutts.  "I'd swear to it anywhere."
+
+"You'd swear a man's life away," ses Bob.  "'Ow can you swear to it when
+it was dark?"
+
+Mr. Cutts didn't answer 'im.  He went down on 'is knees and cut the
+string that tied up the mouth o' the sack, and then 'e started back as if
+'e'd been shot, and 'is eyes a'most started out of 'is 'ead.
+
+"Wot's the matter?" ses the squire.
+
+Mr. Cutts couldn't speak; he could only stutter and point at the sack
+with 'is finger, and Henery Walker, as was getting curious, lifted up the
+other end of it and out rolled a score of as fine cabbages as you could
+wish to see.
+
+I never see people so astonished afore in all my born days, and as for
+Bob Pretty, 'e stood staring at them cabbages as if 'e couldn't believe
+'is eyesight.
+
+"And that's wot I've been kept 'ere all night for," he ses, at last,
+shaking his 'ead.  "That's wot comes o' trying to do a kindness to
+keepers, and 'elping of 'em in their difficult work.  P'r'aps that ain't
+the sack arter all, Mr. Cutts.  I could ha' sworn they was pheasants in
+the one I found, but I may be mistook, never 'aving 'ad one in my 'ands
+afore.  Or p'r'aps somebody was trying to 'ave a game with you, Mr.
+Cutts, and deceived me instead."
+
+The keepers on'y stared at 'im.
+
+"You ought to be more careful," ses Bob.  "Very likely while you was
+taking all that trouble over me, and Keeper Lewis was catching 'is death
+o' cold, the poachers was up at the plantation taking all they wanted.
+And, besides, it ain't right for Squire Rockett to 'ave to pay Henery
+Walker five shillings for finding a lot of old cabbages.  I shouldn't
+like it myself."
+
+[Illustration: "You ought to be more careful," ses Bob.]
+
+He looked out of the corner of 'is eye at the squire, as was pretending
+not to notice Henery Walker touching 'is cap to him, and then 'e turns to
+'is wife and he ses:
+
+"Come along, old gal," 'e ses.  "I want my breakfast bad, and arter that
+I shall 'ave to lose a honest day's work in bed."
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Persecution of Bob Pretty, by W.W. Jacobs
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12209 ***
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+    content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Odd Craft
+    By W. W. Jacobs: Part 9
+</title>
+
+<style type="text/css">
+    <!--
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Persecution of Bob Pretty, by W.W. Jacobs
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Persecution of Bob Pretty
+       Odd Craft, Part 9.
+
+Author: W.W. Jacobs
+
+Release Date: April 30, 2004 [EBook #12209]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: US-ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PERSECUTION OF BOB PRETTY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+<br><br>
+<center>
+<img alt="title (42K)" src="title.jpg" height="658" width="479" />
+</center>
+<br><br>
+<br /><br />
+<h2>
+    1909
+</h2>
+
+<center>
+<h3>PART 9.</h3>
+</center>
+
+<br /><br />
+<hr>
+<br /><br />
+
+
+<h2>List of Illustrations</h2>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-43">
+"Poaching," Said the Old Man, "ain't Wot It Used to Be In
+These 'ere Parts."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-44">
+"I Shall 'ave 'em Afore Long,' Ses Mr. Cutts."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-45">
+"Three Men Burst out O' the Plantation."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-46">
+"Bob Pretty Pointed With 'is Finger Exactly Where 'e
+Thought It Was."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-47">
+"You Ought to Be More Careful," Ses Bob.
+</a></p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<br /><br />
+<hr>
+<br /><br />
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<a name="2H_4_9"><!-- H2 anchor --></a>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h2>
+    THE PERSECUTION OF BOB PRETTY
+</h2>
+<p>
+    The old man sat on his accustomed bench outside the Cauliflower.  A
+    generous measure of beer stood in a blue and white jug by his elbow, and
+    little wisps of smoke curled slowly upward from the bowl of his
+    churchwarden pipe.  The knapsacks of two young men lay where they were
+    flung on the table, and the owners, taking a noon-tide rest, turned a
+    polite, if bored, ear to the reminiscences of grateful old age.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Poaching, said the old man, who had tried topics ranging from early
+    turnips to horseshoeing&mdash;poaching ain't wot it used to be in these 'ere
+    parts.  Nothing is like it used to be, poaching nor anything else; but
+    that there man you might ha' noticed as went out about ten minutes ago
+    and called me "Old Truthfulness" as 'e passed is the worst one I know.
+    Bob Pretty 'is name is, and of all the sly, artful, deceiving men that
+    ever lived in Claybury 'e is the worst&mdash;never did a honest day's work in
+    'is life and never wanted the price of a glass of ale.
+</p>
+<a name="image-43"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="043.jpg" height="521" width="592"
+alt="'poaching,' Said the Old Man, 'ain't Wot It Used to Be In
+These 'ere Parts.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty's worst time was just after old Squire Brown died.  The old
+    squire couldn't afford to preserve much, but by-and-by a gentleman with
+    plenty o' money, from London, named Rockett, took 'is place and things
+    began to look up.  Pheasants was 'is favourites, and 'e spent no end o'
+    money rearing of 'em, but anything that could be shot at suited 'im, too.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He started by sneering at the little game that Squire Brown 'ad left, but
+    all 'e could do didn't seem to make much difference; things disappeared
+    in a most eggstrordinary way, and the keepers went pretty near crazy,
+    while the things the squire said about Claybury and Claybury men was
+    disgraceful.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Everybody knew as it was Bob Pretty and one or two of 'is mates from
+    other places, but they couldn't prove it.  They couldn't catch 'im nohow,
+    and at last the squire 'ad two keepers set off to watch 'im by night and
+    by day.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty wouldn't believe it; he said 'e couldn't.  And even when it
+    was pointed out to 'im that Keeper Lewis was follering of 'im he said
+    that it just 'appened he was going the same way, that was all.  And
+    sometimes 'e'd get up in the middle of the night and go for a fifteen-
+    mile walk 'cos 'e'd got the toothache, and Mr. Lewis, who 'adn't got it,
+    had to tag along arter 'im till he was fit to drop.  O' course, it was
+    one keeper the less to look arter the game, and by-and-by the squire see
+    that and took 'im off.
+</p>
+<p>
+    All the same they kept a pretty close watch on Bob, and at last one
+    arternoon they sprang out on 'im as he was walking past Gray's farm, and
+    asked him wot it was he 'ad in his pockets.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "That's my bisness, Mr. Lewis," ses Bob Pretty.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Mr. Smith, the other keeper, passed 'is hands over Bob's coat and felt
+    something soft and bulgy.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You take your 'ands off of me," ses Bob; "you don't know 'ow partikler I
+    am."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He jerked 'imself away, but they caught 'old of 'im agin, and Mr. Lewis
+    put 'is hand in his inside pocket and pulled out two brace o' partridges.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You'll come along of us," he ses, catching 'im by the arm.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "We've been looking for you a long time," ses Keeper Smith, "and it's a
+    pleasure for us to 'ave your company."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty said 'e wouldn't go, but they forced 'im along and took 'im
+    all the way to Cudford, four miles off, so that Policeman White could
+    lock 'im up for the night.  Mr. White was a'most as pleased as the
+    keepers, and 'e warned Bob solemn not to speak becos all 'e said would be
+    used agin 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Never mind about that," ses Bob Pretty.  "I've got a clear conscience,
+    and talking can't 'urt me.  I'm very glad to see you, Mr. White; if these
+    two clever, experienced keepers hadn't brought me I should 'ave looked
+    you up myself.  They've been and stole my partridges."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Them as was standing round laughed, and even Policeman White couldn't
+    'elp giving a little smile.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "There's nothing to laugh at," ses Bob, 'olding his 'ead up.  "It's a
+    fine thing when a working man&mdash;a 'ardworking man&mdash;can't take home a
+    little game for 'is family without being stopped and robbed."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I s'pose they flew into your pocket?" ses Police-man White.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No, they didn't," ses Bob.  "I'm not going to tell any lies about it;
+    I put 'em there.  The partridges in my inside coat-pocket and the bill in
+    my waistcoat-pocket."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "The bill?" ses Keeper Lewis, staring at 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Yes, the bill," ses Bob Pretty, staring back at 'im; "the bill from Mr.
+    Keen, the poulterer, at Wick-ham."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He fetched it out of 'is pocket and showed it to Mr. White, and the
+    keepers was like madmen a'most 'cos it was plain to see that Bob Pretty
+    'ad been and bought them partridges just for to play a game on 'em.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I was curious to know wot they tasted like," he ses to the policeman.
+    "Worst of it is, I don't s'pose my pore wife'll know 'ow to cook 'em."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You get off 'ome," ses Policeman White, staring at 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "But ain't I goin' to be locked up?"  ses Bob.  "'Ave I been brought all
+    this way just to 'ave a little chat with a policeman I don't like."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You go 'ome," ses Policeman White, handing the partridges back to 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "All right," ses Bob, "and I may 'ave to call you to witness that these
+    'ere two men laid hold o' me and tried to steal my partridges.  I shall
+    go up and see my loryer about it."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He walked off 'ome with his 'ead up as high as 'e could hold it, and the
+    airs 'e used to give 'imself arter this was terrible for to behold.  He
+    got 'is eldest boy to write a long letter to the squire about it, saying
+    that 'e'd overlook it this time, but 'e couldn't promise for the future.
+    Wot with Bob Pretty on one side and Squire Rockett on the other, them two
+    keepers' lives was 'ardly worth living.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Then the squire got a head-keeper named Cutts, a man as was said to know
+    more about the ways of poachers than they did themselves.  He was said to
+    'ave cleared out all the poachers for miles round the place 'e came from,
+    and pheasants could walk into people's cottages and not be touched.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He was a sharp-looking man, tall and thin, with screwed-up eyes and a
+    little red beard.  The second day 'e came 'e was up here at this 'ere
+    Cauliflower, having a pint o' beer and looking round at the chaps as he
+    talked to the landlord.  The odd thing was that men who'd never taken a
+    hare or a pheasant in their lives could 'ardly meet 'is eye, while Bob
+    Pretty stared at 'im as if 'e was a wax-works.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I 'ear you 'ad a little poaching in these parts afore I came," ses Mr.
+    Cutts to the landlord.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I think I 'ave 'eard something o' the kind," ses the landlord, staring
+    over his 'ead with a far-away look in 'is eyes.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You won't hear of much more," ses the keeper.  "I've invented a new way
+    of catching the dirty rascals; afore I came 'ere I caught all the
+    poachers on three estates.  I clear 'em out just like a ferret clears
+    out rats."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Sort o' man-trap?" ses the landlord.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Ah, that's tellings," ses Mr. Cutts.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, I 'ope you'll catch 'em here," ses Bob Pretty; "there's far too
+    many of 'em about for my liking.  Far too many."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I shall 'ave 'em afore long," ses Mr. Cutts, nodding his 'ead.
+</p>
+<a name="image-44"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="044.jpg" height="451" width="533"
+alt="'i Shall 'ave 'em Afore Long,' Ses Mr. Cutts.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    "Your good 'ealth," ses Bob Pretty, holding up 'is mug.  "We've been
+    wanting a man like you for a long time."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I don't want any of your impidence, my man," ses the keeper.  "I've
+    'eard about you, and nothing good either.  You be careful."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I am careful," ses Bob, winking at the others.  "I 'ope you'll catch all
+    them low poaching chaps; they give the place a bad name, and I'm a'most
+    afraid to go out arter dark for fear of meeting 'em."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Peter Gubbins and Sam Jones began to laugh, but Bob Pretty got angry with
+    'em and said he didn't see there was anything to laugh at.  He said that
+    poaching was a disgrace to their native place, and instead o' laughing
+    they ought to be thankful to Mr. Cutts for coming to do away with it all.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Any help I can give you shall be given cheerful," he ses to the keeper.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "When I want your help I'll ask you for it," ses Mr. Cutts.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Thankee," ses Bob Pretty.  "I on'y 'ope I sha'n't get my face knocked
+    about like yours 'as been, that's all; 'cos my wife's so partikler."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot d'ye mean?"  ses Mr. Cutts, turning on him.  "My face ain't been
+    knocked about."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Oh, I beg your pardin," ses Bob; "I didn't know it was natural."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Mr. Cutts went black in the face a'most and stared at Bob Pretty as if 'e
+    was going to eat 'im, and Bob stared back, looking fust at the keeper's
+    nose and then at 'is eyes and mouth, and then at 'is nose agin.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You'll know me agin, I s'pose?" ses Mr. Cutts, at last.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Yes," ses Bob, smiling; "I should know you a mile off&mdash;on the darkest
+    night."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "We shall see," ses Mr. Cutts, taking up 'is beer and turning 'is back on
+    him.  "Those of us as live the longest'll see the most."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I'm glad I've lived long enough to see 'im," ses Bob to Bill Chambers.
+    "I feel more satisfied with myself now."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bill Chambers coughed, and Mr. Cutts, arter finishing 'is beer, took
+    another look at Bob Pretty, and went off boiling a'most.
+</p>
+<p>
+    The trouble he took to catch Bob Pretty arter that you wouldn't believe,
+    and all the time the game seemed to be simply melting away, and Squire
+    Rockett was finding fault with 'im all day long.  He was worn to a
+    shadder a'most with watching, and Bob Pretty seemed to be more prosperous
+    than ever.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Sometimes Mr. Cutts watched in the plantations, and sometimes 'e hid
+    'imself near Bob's house, and at last one night, when 'e was crouching
+    behind the fence of Frederick Scott's front garden, 'e saw Bob Pretty
+    come out of 'is house and, arter a careful look round, walk up the road.
+    He held 'is breath as Bob passed 'im, and was just getting up to foller
+    'im when Bob stopped and walked slowly back agin, sniffing.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot a delicious smell o' roses!"  he ses, out loud.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He stood in the middle o' the road nearly opposite where the keeper was
+    hiding, and sniffed so that you could ha' 'eard him the other end o' the
+    village.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "It can't be roses," he ses, in a puzzled voice, "be-cos there ain't no
+    roses hereabouts, and, besides, it's late for 'em.  It must be Mr. Cutts,
+    the clever new keeper."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He put his 'ead over the fence and bid 'im good evening, and said wot a
+    fine night for a stroll it was, and asked 'im whether 'e was waiting for
+    Frederick Scott's aunt.  Mr. Cutts didn't answer 'im a word; 'e was
+    pretty near bursting with passion.  He got up and shook 'is fist in Bob
+    Pretty's face, and then 'e went off stamping down the road as if 'e was
+    going mad.
+</p>
+<p>
+    And for a time Bob Pretty seemed to 'ave all the luck on 'is side.
+    Keeper Lewis got rheumatic fever, which 'e put down to sitting about
+    night arter night in damp places watching for Bob, and, while 'e was in
+    the thick of it, with the doctor going every day, Mr. Cutts fell in
+    getting over a fence and broke 'is leg.  Then all the work fell on Keeper
+    Smith, and to 'ear 'im talk you'd think that rheumatic fever and broken
+    legs was better than anything else in the world.  He asked the squire for
+    'elp, but the squire wouldn't give it to 'im, and he kept telling 'im wot
+    a feather in 'is cap it would be if 'e did wot the other two couldn't do,
+    and caught Bob Pretty.  It was all very well, but, as Smith said, wot 'e
+    wanted was feathers in 'is piller, instead of 'aving to snatch a bit o'
+    sleep in 'is chair or sitting down with his 'ead agin a tree.  When I
+    tell you that 'e fell asleep in this public-'ouse one night while the
+    landlord was drawing a pint o' beer he 'ad ordered, you'll know wot 'e
+    suffered.
+</p>
+<p>
+    O' course, all this suited Bob Pretty as well as could be, and 'e was
+    that good-tempered 'e'd got a nice word for everybody, and when Bill
+    Chambers told 'im 'e was foolhardy 'e only laughed and said 'e knew wot
+    'e was about.
+</p>
+<p>
+    But the very next night 'e had reason to remember Bill Chambers's words.
+    He was walking along Farmer Hall's field&mdash;the one next to the squire's
+    plantation&mdash;and, so far from being nervous, 'e was actually a-whistling.
+    He'd got a sack over 'is shoulder, loaded as full as it could be, and 'e
+    'ad just stopped to light 'is pipe when three men burst out o' the
+    plantation and ran toward 'im as 'ard as they could run.
+</p>
+<a name="image-45"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="045.jpg" height="675" width="498"
+alt="'three Men Burst out O' the Plantation.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty just gave one look and then 'e dropped 'is pipe and set off
+    like a hare.  It was no good dropping the sack, because Smith, the
+    keeper, 'ad recognised 'im and called 'im by name, so 'e just put 'is
+    teeth together and did the best he could, and there's no doubt that if it
+    'adn't ha' been for the sack 'e could 'ave got clear away.
+</p>
+<p>
+    As it was, 'e ran for pretty near a mile, and they could 'ear 'im
+    breathing like a pair o' bellows; but at last 'e saw that the game was
+    up.  He just man-aged to struggle as far as Farmer Pinnock's pond, and
+    then, waving the sack round his 'ead, 'e flung it into the middle of it,
+    and fell down gasping for breath.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Got&mdash;you&mdash;this time&mdash;Bob Pretty," ses one o' the men, as they came up.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot&mdash;Mr. Cutts?"  ses Bob, with a start.  "That's me, my man," ses the
+    keeper.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Why&mdash;I thought&mdash;you was.  Is that Mr. Lewis?  It can't be."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "That's me," ses Keeper Lewis.  "We both got well sudden-like, Bob
+    Pretty, when we 'eard you was out.  You ain't so sharp as you thought you
+    was."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty sat still, getting 'is breath back and doing a bit o' thinking
+    at the same time.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You give me a start," he ses, at last.  "I thought you was both in bed,
+    and, knowing 'ow hard worked Mr. Smith 'as been, I just came round to
+    'elp 'im keep watch like.  I promised to 'elp you, Mr. Cutts, if you
+    remember."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot was that you threw in the pond just now?" ses Mr. Cutts.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "A sack," ses Bob Pretty; "a sack I found in Farmer Hall's field.  It
+    felt to me as though it might 'ave birds in it, so I picked it up, and I
+    was just on my way to your 'ouse with it, Mr. Cutts, when you started
+    arter me."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Ah!" ses the keeper, "and wot did you run for?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty tried to laugh.  "Becos I thought it was the poachers arter
+    me," he ses.  "It seems ridikilous, don't it?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Yes, it does," ses Lewis.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I thought you'd know me a mile off," ses Mr. Cutts.  "I should ha'
+    thought the smell o' roses would ha' told you I was near."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty scratched 'is 'ead and looked at 'im out of the corner of 'is
+    eye, but he 'adn't got any answer.  Then 'e sat biting his finger-nails
+    and thinking while the keepers stood argyfying as to who should take 'is
+    clothes off and go into the pond arter the pheasants.  It was a very cold
+    night and the pond was pretty deep in places, and none of 'em seemed
+    anxious.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Make 'im go in for it," ses Lewis, looking at Bob; "'e chucked it in."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "On'y Becos I thought you was poachers," ses Bob.  "I'm sorry to 'ave
+    caused so much trouble."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, you go in and get it out," ses Lewis, who pretty well guessed
+    who'd 'ave to do it if Bob didn't.  "It'll look better for you, too."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I've got my defence all right," ses Bob Pretty.  "I ain't set a foot on
+    the squire's preserves, and I found this sack a 'undred yards away from
+    it."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Don't waste more time," ses Mr. Cutts to Lewis.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Off with your clothes and in with you.  Anybody'd think you was afraid
+    of a little cold water."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Whereabouts did 'e pitch it in?"  ses Lewis.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty pointed with 'is finger exactly where 'e thought it was, but
+    they wouldn't listen to 'im, and then Lewis, arter twice saying wot a bad
+    cold he'd got, took 'is coat off very slow and careful.
+</p>
+<a name="image-46"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="046.jpg" height="555" width="538"
+alt="'bob Pretty Pointed With 'is Finger Exactly Where 'e
+Thought It Was.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    "I wouldn't mind going in to oblige you," ses Bob Pretty, "but the pond
+    is so full o' them cold, slimy efts; I don't fancy them crawling up agin
+    me, and, besides that, there's such a lot o' deep holes in it.  And
+    wotever you do don't put your 'ead under; you know 'ow foul that water
+    is."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Keeper Lewis pretended not to listen to 'im.  He took off 'is clothes
+    very slowly and then 'e put one foot in and stood shivering, although
+    Smith, who felt the water with his 'and, said it was quite warm.  Then
+    Lewis put the other foot in and began to walk about careful, 'arf-way up
+    to 'is knees.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I can't find it," he ses, with 'is teeth chattering.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You 'aven't looked," ses Mr. Cutts; "walk about more; you can't expect
+    to find it all at once.  Try the middle."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Lewis tried the middle, and 'e stood there up to 'is neck, feeling about
+    with his foot and saying things out loud about Bob Pretty, and other
+    things under 'is breath about Mr. Cutts.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, I'm going off 'ome," ses Bob Pretty, getting up.  "I'm too
+    tender-'arted to stop and see a man drownded."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You stay 'ere," ses Mr. Cutts, catching 'old of him.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot for?" ses Bob; "you've got no right to keep me 'ere."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Catch 'old of 'im, Joe," ses Mr. Cutts, quick-like.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Smith caught 'old of his other arm, and Lewis left off trying to find the
+    sack to watch the struggle.  Bob Pretty fought 'ard, and once or twice 'e
+    nearly tumbled Mr. Cutts into the pond, but at last 'e gave in and lay
+    down panting and talking about 'is loryer.  Smith 'eld him down on the
+    ground while Mr. Cutts kept pointing out places with 'is finger for Lewis
+    to walk to.  The last place 'e pointed to wanted a much taller man, but
+    it wasn't found out till too late, and the fuss Keeper Lewis made when 'e
+    could speak agin was terrible.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You'd better come out," ses Mr. Cutts; "you ain't doing no good.  We
+    know where they are and we'll watch the pond till daylight&mdash;that is,
+    unless Smith 'ud like to 'ave a try."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "It's pretty near daylight now, I think," ses Smith.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Lewis came out and ran up and down to dry 'imself, and finished off on
+    'is pocket-'andkerchief, and then with 'is teeth chattering 'e began to
+    dress 'imself.  He got 'is shirt on, and then 'e stood turning over 'is
+    clothes as if 'e was looking for something.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Never mind about your stud now," ses Mr. Cutts; "hurry up and dress."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Stud?" ses Lewis, very snappish.  "I'm looking for my trowsis."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Your trowsis?" ses Smith, 'elping 'im look.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I put all my clothes together," ses Lewis, a'most shouting.  "Where are
+    they?  I'm 'arf perished with cold.  Where are they?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "He 'ad 'em on this evening," ses Bob Pretty, "'cos I remember noticing
+    'em."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "They must be somewhere about," ses Mr. Cutts; "why don't you use your
+    eyes?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    He walked up and down, peering about, and as for Lewis he was 'opping
+    round 'arf crazy.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I wonder," ses Bob Pretty, in a thoughtful voice, to Smith&mdash;"I wonder
+    whether you or Mr. Cutts kicked 'em in the pond while you was struggling
+    with me.  Come to think of it, I seem to remember 'earing a splash."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "He's done it, Mr. Cutts," ses Smith; "never mind, it'll go all the
+    'arder with 'im."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "But I do mind," ses Lewis, shouting.  "I'll be even with you for this,
+    Bob Pretty.  I'll make you feel it.  You wait till I've done with you.
+    You'll get a month extra for this, you see if you don't."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Don't you mind about me," ses Bob; "you run off 'ome and cover up them
+    legs of yours.  I found that sack, so my conscience is clear."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Lewis put on 'is coat and waistcoat and set off, and Mr. Cutts and Smith,
+    arter feeling about for a dry place, set theirselves down and began to
+    smoke.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Look 'ere," ses Bob Pretty, "I'm not going to sit 'ere all night to
+    please you; I'm going off 'ome.  If you want me you'll know where to find
+    me."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You stay where you are," ses Mr. Cutts.  "We ain't going to let you out
+    of our sight."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Very well, then, you take me 'ome," ses Bob.  "I'm not going to catch my
+    death o' cold sitting 'ere.  I'm not used to being out of a night like
+    you are.  I was brought up respectable."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I dare say," ses Mr. Cutts.  "Take you 'ome, and then 'ave one o' your
+    mates come and get the sack while we're away."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Then Bob Pretty lost 'is temper, and the things 'e said about Mr. Cutts
+    wasn't fit for Smith to 'ear.  He threw 'imself down at last full length
+    on the ground and sulked till the day broke.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Keeper Lewis was there a'most as soon as it was light, with some long
+    hay-rakes he'd borrowed, and I should think that pretty near 'arf the
+    folks in Clay-bury 'ad turned up to see the fun.  Mrs. Pretty was crying
+    and wringing 'er 'ands; but most folks seemed to be rather pleased that
+    Bob 'ad been caught at last.
+</p>
+<p>
+    In next to no time 'arf-a-dozen rakes was at work, and the things they
+    brought out o' that pond you wouldn't believe.  The edge of it was all
+    littered with rusty tin pails and saucepans and such-like, and by-and-by
+    Lewis found the things he'd 'ad to go 'ome without a few hours afore, but
+    they didn't seem to find that sack, and Bob Pretty, wot was talking to
+    'is wife, began to look 'opeful.
+</p>
+<p>
+    But just then the squire came riding up with two friends as was staying
+    with 'im, and he offered a reward of five shillings to the man wot found
+    it.  Three or four of 'em waded in up to their middle then and raked
+    their 'ardest, and at last Henery Walker give a cheer and brought it to
+    the side, all heavy with water.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "That's the sack I found, sir," ses Bob, starting up.  "It wasn't on your
+    land at all, but on the field next to it.  I'm an honest, 'ardworking
+    man, and I've never been in trouble afore.  Ask anybody 'ere and they'll
+    tell you the same."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Squire Rockett took no notice of 'im.  "Is that the sack?"  he asks,
+    turning to Mr. Cutts.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "That's the one, sir," ses Mr. Cutts.  "I'd swear to it anywhere."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You'd swear a man's life away," ses Bob.  "'Ow can you swear to it when
+    it was dark?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    Mr. Cutts didn't answer 'im.  He went down on 'is knees and cut the
+    string that tied up the mouth o' the sack, and then 'e started back as if
+    'e'd been shot, and 'is eyes a'most started out of 'is 'ead.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot's the matter?" ses the squire.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Mr. Cutts couldn't speak; he could only stutter and point at the sack
+    with 'is finger, and Henery Walker, as was getting curious, lifted up the
+    other end of it and out rolled a score of as fine cabbages as you could
+    wish to see.
+</p>
+<p>
+    I never see people so astonished afore in all my born days, and as for
+    Bob Pretty, 'e stood staring at them cabbages as if 'e couldn't believe
+    'is eyesight.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "And that's wot I've been kept 'ere all night for," he ses, at last,
+    shaking his 'ead.  "That's wot comes o' trying to do a kindness to
+    keepers, and 'elping of 'em in their difficult work.  P'r'aps that ain't
+    the sack arter all, Mr. Cutts.  I could ha' sworn they was pheasants in
+    the one I found, but I may be mistook, never 'aving 'ad one in my 'ands
+    afore.  Or p'r'aps somebody was trying to 'ave a game with you, Mr.
+    Cutts, and deceived me instead."
+</p>
+<p>
+    The keepers on'y stared at 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You ought to be more careful," ses Bob.  "Very likely while you was
+    taking all that trouble over me, and Keeper Lewis was catching 'is death
+    o' cold, the poachers was up at the plantation taking all they wanted.
+    And, besides, it ain't right for Squire Rockett to 'ave to pay Henery
+    Walker five shillings for finding a lot of old cabbages.  I shouldn't
+    like it myself."
+</p>
+<a name="image-47"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="047.jpg" height="551" width="580"
+alt="'you Ought to Be More Careful,' Ses Bob.
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    He looked out of the corner of 'is eye at the squire, as was pretending
+    not to notice Henery Walker touching 'is cap to him, and then 'e turns to
+    'is wife and he ses:
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Come along, old gal," 'e ses.  "I want my breakfast bad, and arter that
+    I shall 'ave to lose a honest day's work in bed."
+</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Persecution of Bob Pretty, by W.W. Jacobs
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Persecution of Bob Pretty, by W.W. Jacobs
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Persecution of Bob Pretty
+       Odd Craft, Part 9.
+
+Author: W.W. Jacobs
+
+Release Date: April 30, 2004 [EBook #12209]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PERSECUTION OF BOB PRETTY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+ODD CRAFT
+
+By W.W. Jacobs
+
+
+
+THE PERSECUTION OF BOB PRETTY
+
+The old man sat on his accustomed bench outside the Cauliflower.  A
+generous measure of beer stood in a blue and white jug by his elbow, and
+little wisps of smoke curled slowly upward from the bowl of his
+churchwarden pipe.  The knapsacks of two young men lay where they were
+flung on the table, and the owners, taking a noon-tide rest, turned a
+polite, if bored, ear to the reminiscences of grateful old age.
+
+Poaching, said the old man, who had tried topics ranging from early
+turnips to horseshoeing--poaching ain't wot it used to be in these 'ere
+parts.  Nothing is like it used to be, poaching nor anything else; but
+that there man you might ha' noticed as went out about ten minutes ago
+and called me "Old Truthfulness" as 'e passed is the worst one I know.
+Bob Pretty 'is name is, and of all the sly, artful, deceiving men that
+ever lived in Claybury 'e is the worst--never did a honest day's work in
+'is life and never wanted the price of a glass of ale.
+
+[Illustration: "Poaching," said the old man, "ain't wot it used to be in
+these 'ere parts."]
+
+Bob Pretty's worst time was just after old Squire Brown died.  The old
+squire couldn't afford to preserve much, but by-and-by a gentleman with
+plenty o' money, from London, named Rockett, took 'is place and things
+began to look up.  Pheasants was 'is favourites, and 'e spent no end o'
+money rearing of 'em, but anything that could be shot at suited 'im, too.
+
+He started by sneering at the little game that Squire Brown 'ad left, but
+all 'e could do didn't seem to make much difference; things disappeared
+in a most eggstrordinary way, and the keepers went pretty near crazy,
+while the things the squire said about Claybury and Claybury men was
+disgraceful.
+
+Everybody knew as it was Bob Pretty and one or two of 'is mates from
+other places, but they couldn't prove it.  They couldn't catch 'im nohow,
+and at last the squire 'ad two keepers set off to watch 'im by night and
+by day.
+
+Bob Pretty wouldn't believe it; he said 'e couldn't.  And even when it
+was pointed out to 'im that Keeper Lewis was follering of 'im he said
+that it just 'appened he was going the same way, that was all.  And
+sometimes 'e'd get up in the middle of the night and go for a fifteen-
+mile walk 'cos 'e'd got the toothache, and Mr. Lewis, who 'adn't got it,
+had to tag along arter 'im till he was fit to drop.  O' course, it was
+one keeper the less to look arter the game, and by-and-by the squire see
+that and took 'im off.
+
+All the same they kept a pretty close watch on Bob, and at last one
+arternoon they sprang out on 'im as he was walking past Gray's farm, and
+asked him wot it was he 'ad in his pockets.
+
+"That's my bisness, Mr. Lewis," ses Bob Pretty.
+
+Mr. Smith, the other keeper, passed 'is hands over Bob's coat and felt
+something soft and bulgy.
+
+"You take your 'ands off of me," ses Bob; "you don't know 'ow partikler I
+am."
+
+He jerked 'imself away, but they caught 'old of 'im agin, and Mr. Lewis
+put 'is hand in his inside pocket and pulled out two brace o' partridges.
+
+"You'll come along of us," he ses, catching 'im by the arm.
+
+"We've been looking for you a long time," ses Keeper Smith, "and it's a
+pleasure for us to 'ave your company."
+
+Bob Pretty said 'e wouldn't go, but they forced 'im along and took 'im
+all the way to Cudford, four miles off, so that Policeman White could
+lock 'im up for the night.  Mr. White was a'most as pleased as the
+keepers, and 'e warned Bob solemn not to speak becos all 'e said would be
+used agin 'im.
+
+"Never mind about that," ses Bob Pretty.  "I've got a clear conscience,
+and talking can't 'urt me.  I'm very glad to see you, Mr. White; if these
+two clever, experienced keepers hadn't brought me I should 'ave looked
+you up myself.  They've been and stole my partridges."
+
+Them as was standing round laughed, and even Policeman White couldn't
+'elp giving a little smile.
+
+"There's nothing to laugh at," ses Bob, 'olding his 'ead up.  "It's a
+fine thing when a working man--a 'ardworking man--can't take home a
+little game for 'is family without being stopped and robbed."
+
+"I s'pose they flew into your pocket?" ses Police-man White.
+
+"No, they didn't," ses Bob.  "I'm not going to tell any lies about it;
+I put 'em there.  The partridges in my inside coat-pocket and the bill in
+my waistcoat-pocket."
+
+"The bill?" ses Keeper Lewis, staring at 'im.
+
+"Yes, the bill," ses Bob Pretty, staring back at 'im; "the bill from Mr.
+Keen, the poulterer, at Wick-ham."
+
+He fetched it out of 'is pocket and showed it to Mr. White, and the
+keepers was like madmen a'most 'cos it was plain to see that Bob Pretty
+'ad been and bought them partridges just for to play a game on 'em.
+
+"I was curious to know wot they tasted like," he ses to the policeman.
+"Worst of it is, I don't s'pose my pore wife'll know 'ow to cook 'em."
+
+"You get off 'ome," ses Policeman White, staring at 'im.
+
+"But ain't I goin' to be locked up?"  ses Bob.  "'Ave I been brought all
+this way just to 'ave a little chat with a policeman I don't like."
+
+"You go 'ome," ses Policeman White, handing the partridges back to 'im.
+
+"All right," ses Bob, "and I may 'ave to call you to witness that these
+'ere two men laid hold o' me and tried to steal my partridges.  I shall
+go up and see my loryer about it."
+
+He walked off 'ome with his 'ead up as high as 'e could hold it, and the
+airs 'e used to give 'imself arter this was terrible for to behold.  He
+got 'is eldest boy to write a long letter to the squire about it, saying
+that 'e'd overlook it this time, but 'e couldn't promise for the future.
+Wot with Bob Pretty on one side and Squire Rockett on the other, them two
+keepers' lives was 'ardly worth living.
+
+Then the squire got a head-keeper named Cutts, a man as was said to know
+more about the ways of poachers than they did themselves.  He was said to
+'ave cleared out all the poachers for miles round the place 'e came from,
+and pheasants could walk into people's cottages and not be touched.
+
+He was a sharp-looking man, tall and thin, with screwed-up eyes and a
+little red beard.  The second day 'e came 'e was up here at this 'ere
+Cauliflower, having a pint o' beer and looking round at the chaps as he
+talked to the landlord.  The odd thing was that men who'd never taken a
+hare or a pheasant in their lives could 'ardly meet 'is eye, while Bob
+Pretty stared at 'im as if 'e was a wax-works.
+
+"I 'ear you 'ad a little poaching in these parts afore I came," ses Mr.
+Cutts to the landlord.
+
+"I think I 'ave 'eard something o' the kind," ses the landlord, staring
+over his 'ead with a far-away look in 'is eyes.
+
+"You won't hear of much more," ses the keeper.  "I've invented a new way
+of catching the dirty rascals; afore I came 'ere I caught all the
+poachers on three estates.  I clear 'em out just like a ferret clears
+out rats."
+
+"Sort o' man-trap?" ses the landlord.
+
+"Ah, that's tellings," ses Mr. Cutts.
+
+"Well, I 'ope you'll catch 'em here," ses Bob Pretty; "there's far too
+many of 'em about for my liking.  Far too many."
+
+"I shall 'ave 'em afore long," ses Mr. Cutts, nodding his 'ead.
+
+[Illustration: "I shall 'ave 'em afore long,' ses Mr. Cutts."]
+
+"Your good 'ealth," ses Bob Pretty, holding up 'is mug.  "We've been
+wanting a man like you for a long time."
+
+"I don't want any of your impidence, my man," ses the keeper.  "I've
+'eard about you, and nothing good either.  You be careful."
+
+"I am careful," ses Bob, winking at the others.  "I 'ope you'll catch all
+them low poaching chaps; they give the place a bad name, and I'm a'most
+afraid to go out arter dark for fear of meeting 'em."
+
+Peter Gubbins and Sam Jones began to laugh, but Bob Pretty got angry with
+'em and said he didn't see there was anything to laugh at.  He said that
+poaching was a disgrace to their native place, and instead o' laughing
+they ought to be thankful to Mr. Cutts for coming to do away with it all.
+
+"Any help I can give you shall be given cheerful," he ses to the keeper.
+
+"When I want your help I'll ask you for it," ses Mr. Cutts.
+
+"Thankee," ses Bob Pretty.  "I on'y 'ope I sha'n't get my face knocked
+about like yours 'as been, that's all; 'cos my wife's so partikler."
+
+"Wot d'ye mean?"  ses Mr. Cutts, turning on him.  "My face ain't been
+knocked about."
+
+"Oh, I beg your pardin," ses Bob; "I didn't know it was natural."
+
+Mr. Cutts went black in the face a'most and stared at Bob Pretty as if 'e
+was going to eat 'im, and Bob stared back, looking fust at the keeper's
+nose and then at 'is eyes and mouth, and then at 'is nose agin.
+
+"You'll know me agin, I s'pose?" ses Mr. Cutts, at last.
+
+"Yes," ses Bob, smiling; "I should know you a mile off--on the darkest
+night."
+
+"We shall see," ses Mr. Cutts, taking up 'is beer and turning 'is back on
+him.  "Those of us as live the longest'll see the most."
+
+"I'm glad I've lived long enough to see 'im," ses Bob to Bill Chambers.
+"I feel more satisfied with myself now."
+
+Bill Chambers coughed, and Mr. Cutts, arter finishing 'is beer, took
+another look at Bob Pretty, and went off boiling a'most.
+
+The trouble he took to catch Bob Pretty arter that you wouldn't believe,
+and all the time the game seemed to be simply melting away, and Squire
+Rockett was finding fault with 'im all day long.  He was worn to a
+shadder a'most with watching, and Bob Pretty seemed to be more prosperous
+than ever.
+
+Sometimes Mr. Cutts watched in the plantations, and sometimes 'e hid
+'imself near Bob's house, and at last one night, when 'e was crouching
+behind the fence of Frederick Scott's front garden, 'e saw Bob Pretty
+come out of 'is house and, arter a careful look round, walk up the road.
+He held 'is breath as Bob passed 'im, and was just getting up to foller
+'im when Bob stopped and walked slowly back agin, sniffing.
+
+"Wot a delicious smell o' roses!"  he ses, out loud.
+
+He stood in the middle o' the road nearly opposite where the keeper was
+hiding, and sniffed so that you could ha' 'eard him the other end o' the
+village.
+
+"It can't be roses," he ses, in a puzzled voice, "be-cos there ain't no
+roses hereabouts, and, besides, it's late for 'em.  It must be Mr. Cutts,
+the clever new keeper."
+
+He put his 'ead over the fence and bid 'im good evening, and said wot a
+fine night for a stroll it was, and asked 'im whether 'e was waiting for
+Frederick Scott's aunt.  Mr. Cutts didn't answer 'im a word; 'e was
+pretty near bursting with passion.  He got up and shook 'is fist in Bob
+Pretty's face, and then 'e went off stamping down the road as if 'e was
+going mad.
+
+And for a time Bob Pretty seemed to 'ave all the luck on 'is side.
+Keeper Lewis got rheumatic fever, which 'e put down to sitting about
+night arter night in damp places watching for Bob, and, while 'e was in
+the thick of it, with the doctor going every day, Mr. Cutts fell in
+getting over a fence and broke 'is leg.  Then all the work fell on Keeper
+Smith, and to 'ear 'im talk you'd think that rheumatic fever and broken
+legs was better than anything else in the world.  He asked the squire for
+'elp, but the squire wouldn't give it to 'im, and he kept telling 'im wot
+a feather in 'is cap it would be if 'e did wot the other two couldn't do,
+and caught Bob Pretty.  It was all very well, but, as Smith said, wot 'e
+wanted was feathers in 'is piller, instead of 'aving to snatch a bit o'
+sleep in 'is chair or sitting down with his 'ead agin a tree.  When I
+tell you that 'e fell asleep in this public-'ouse one night while the
+landlord was drawing a pint o' beer he 'ad ordered, you'll know wot 'e
+suffered.
+
+O' course, all this suited Bob Pretty as well as could be, and 'e was
+that good-tempered 'e'd got a nice word for everybody, and when Bill
+Chambers told 'im 'e was foolhardy 'e only laughed and said 'e knew wot
+'e was about.
+
+But the very next night 'e had reason to remember Bill Chambers's words.
+He was walking along Farmer Hall's field--the one next to the squire's
+plantation--and, so far from being nervous, 'e was actually a-whistling.
+He'd got a sack over 'is shoulder, loaded as full as it could be, and 'e
+'ad just stopped to light 'is pipe when three men burst out o' the
+plantation and ran toward 'im as 'ard as they could run.
+
+[Illustration: "Three men burst out o' the plantation."]
+
+Bob Pretty just gave one look and then 'e dropped 'is pipe and set off
+like a hare.  It was no good dropping the sack, because Smith, the
+keeper, 'ad recognised 'im and called 'im by name, so 'e just put 'is
+teeth together and did the best he could, and there's no doubt that if it
+'adn't ha' been for the sack 'e could 'ave got clear away.
+
+As it was, 'e ran for pretty near a mile, and they could 'ear 'im
+breathing like a pair o' bellows; but at last 'e saw that the game was
+up.  He just man-aged to struggle as far as Farmer Pinnock's pond, and
+then, waving the sack round his 'ead, 'e flung it into the middle of it,
+and fell down gasping for breath.
+
+"Got--you--this time--Bob Pretty," ses one o' the men, as they came up.
+
+"Wot--Mr. Cutts?"  ses Bob, with a start.  "That's me, my man," ses the
+keeper.
+
+"Why--I thought--you was.  Is that Mr. Lewis?  It can't be."
+
+"That's me," ses Keeper Lewis.  "We both got well sudden-like, Bob
+Pretty, when we 'eard you was out.  You ain't so sharp as you thought you
+was."
+
+Bob Pretty sat still, getting 'is breath back and doing a bit o' thinking
+at the same time.
+
+"You give me a start," he ses, at last.  "I thought you was both in bed,
+and, knowing 'ow hard worked Mr. Smith 'as been, I just came round to
+'elp 'im keep watch like.  I promised to 'elp you, Mr. Cutts, if you
+remember."
+
+"Wot was that you threw in the pond just now?" ses Mr. Cutts.
+
+"A sack," ses Bob Pretty; "a sack I found in Farmer Hall's field.  It
+felt to me as though it might 'ave birds in it, so I picked it up, and I
+was just on my way to your 'ouse with it, Mr. Cutts, when you started
+arter me."
+
+"Ah!" ses the keeper, "and wot did you run for?"
+
+Bob Pretty tried to laugh.  "Becos I thought it was the poachers arter
+me," he ses.  "It seems ridikilous, don't it?"
+
+"Yes, it does," ses Lewis.
+
+"I thought you'd know me a mile off," ses Mr. Cutts.  "I should ha'
+thought the smell o' roses would ha' told you I was near."
+
+Bob Pretty scratched 'is 'ead and looked at 'im out of the corner of 'is
+eye, but he 'adn't got any answer.  Then 'e sat biting his finger-nails
+and thinking while the keepers stood argyfying as to who should take 'is
+clothes off and go into the pond arter the pheasants.  It was a very cold
+night and the pond was pretty deep in places, and none of 'em seemed
+anxious.
+
+"Make 'im go in for it," ses Lewis, looking at Bob; "'e chucked it in."
+
+"On'y Becos I thought you was poachers," ses Bob.  "I'm sorry to 'ave
+caused so much trouble."
+
+"Well, you go in and get it out," ses Lewis, who pretty well guessed
+who'd 'ave to do it if Bob didn't.  "It'll look better for you, too."
+
+"I've got my defence all right," ses Bob Pretty.  "I ain't set a foot on
+the squire's preserves, and I found this sack a 'undred yards away from
+it."
+
+"Don't waste more time," ses Mr. Cutts to Lewis.
+
+"Off with your clothes and in with you.  Anybody'd think you was afraid
+of a little cold water."
+
+"Whereabouts did 'e pitch it in?"  ses Lewis.
+
+Bob Pretty pointed with 'is finger exactly where 'e thought it was, but
+they wouldn't listen to 'im, and then Lewis, arter twice saying wot a bad
+cold he'd got, took 'is coat off very slow and careful.
+
+[Illustration: "Bob Pretty pointed with 'is finger exactly where 'e
+thought it was."]
+
+"I wouldn't mind going in to oblige you," ses Bob Pretty, "but the pond
+is so full o' them cold, slimy efts; I don't fancy them crawling up agin
+me, and, besides that, there's such a lot o' deep holes in it.  And
+wotever you do don't put your 'ead under; you know 'ow foul that water
+is."
+
+Keeper Lewis pretended not to listen to 'im.  He took off 'is clothes
+very slowly and then 'e put one foot in and stood shivering, although
+Smith, who felt the water with his 'and, said it was quite warm.  Then
+Lewis put the other foot in and began to walk about careful, 'arf-way up
+to 'is knees.
+
+"I can't find it," he ses, with 'is teeth chattering.
+
+"You 'aven't looked," ses Mr. Cutts; "walk about more; you can't expect
+to find it all at once.  Try the middle."
+
+Lewis tried the middle, and 'e stood there up to 'is neck, feeling about
+with his foot and saying things out loud about Bob Pretty, and other
+things under 'is breath about Mr. Cutts.
+
+"Well, I'm going off 'ome," ses Bob Pretty, getting up.  "I'm too
+tender-'arted to stop and see a man drownded."
+
+"You stay 'ere," ses Mr. Cutts, catching 'old of him.
+
+"Wot for?" ses Bob; "you've got no right to keep me 'ere."
+
+"Catch 'old of 'im, Joe," ses Mr. Cutts, quick-like.
+
+Smith caught 'old of his other arm, and Lewis left off trying to find the
+sack to watch the struggle.  Bob Pretty fought 'ard, and once or twice 'e
+nearly tumbled Mr. Cutts into the pond, but at last 'e gave in and lay
+down panting and talking about 'is loryer.  Smith 'eld him down on the
+ground while Mr. Cutts kept pointing out places with 'is finger for Lewis
+to walk to.  The last place 'e pointed to wanted a much taller man, but
+it wasn't found out till too late, and the fuss Keeper Lewis made when 'e
+could speak agin was terrible.
+
+"You'd better come out," ses Mr. Cutts; "you ain't doing no good.  We
+know where they are and we'll watch the pond till daylight--that is,
+unless Smith 'ud like to 'ave a try."
+
+"It's pretty near daylight now, I think," ses Smith.
+
+Lewis came out and ran up and down to dry 'imself, and finished off on
+'is pocket-'andkerchief, and then with 'is teeth chattering 'e began to
+dress 'imself.  He got 'is shirt on, and then 'e stood turning over 'is
+clothes as if 'e was looking for something.
+
+"Never mind about your stud now," ses Mr. Cutts; "hurry up and dress."
+
+"Stud?" ses Lewis, very snappish.  "I'm looking for my trowsis."
+
+"Your trowsis?" ses Smith, 'elping 'im look.
+
+"I put all my clothes together," ses Lewis, a'most shouting.  "Where are
+they?  I'm 'arf perished with cold.  Where are they?"
+
+"He 'ad 'em on this evening," ses Bob Pretty, "'cos I remember noticing
+'em."
+
+"They must be somewhere about," ses Mr. Cutts; "why don't you use your
+eyes?"
+
+He walked up and down, peering about, and as for Lewis he was 'opping
+round 'arf crazy.
+
+"I wonder," ses Bob Pretty, in a thoughtful voice, to Smith--"I wonder
+whether you or Mr. Cutts kicked 'em in the pond while you was struggling
+with me.  Come to think of it, I seem to remember 'earing a splash."
+
+"He's done it, Mr. Cutts," ses Smith; "never mind, it'll go all the
+'arder with 'im."
+
+"But I do mind," ses Lewis, shouting.  "I'll be even with you for this,
+Bob Pretty.  I'll make you feel it.  You wait till I've done with you.
+You'll get a month extra for this, you see if you don't."
+
+"Don't you mind about me," ses Bob; "you run off 'ome and cover up them
+legs of yours.  I found that sack, so my conscience is clear."
+
+Lewis put on 'is coat and waistcoat and set off, and Mr. Cutts and Smith,
+arter feeling about for a dry place, set theirselves down and began to
+smoke.
+
+"Look 'ere," ses Bob Pretty, "I'm not going to sit 'ere all night to
+please you; I'm going off 'ome.  If you want me you'll know where to find
+me."
+
+"You stay where you are," ses Mr. Cutts.  "We ain't going to let you out
+of our sight."
+
+"Very well, then, you take me 'ome," ses Bob.  "I'm not going to catch my
+death o' cold sitting 'ere.  I'm not used to being out of a night like
+you are.  I was brought up respectable."
+
+"I dare say," ses Mr. Cutts.  "Take you 'ome, and then 'ave one o' your
+mates come and get the sack while we're away."
+
+Then Bob Pretty lost 'is temper, and the things 'e said about Mr. Cutts
+wasn't fit for Smith to 'ear.  He threw 'imself down at last full length
+on the ground and sulked till the day broke.
+
+Keeper Lewis was there a'most as soon as it was light, with some long
+hay-rakes he'd borrowed, and I should think that pretty near 'arf the
+folks in Clay-bury 'ad turned up to see the fun.  Mrs. Pretty was crying
+and wringing 'er 'ands; but most folks seemed to be rather pleased that
+Bob 'ad been caught at last.
+
+In next to no time 'arf-a-dozen rakes was at work, and the things they
+brought out o' that pond you wouldn't believe.  The edge of it was all
+littered with rusty tin pails and saucepans and such-like, and by-and-by
+Lewis found the things he'd 'ad to go 'ome without a few hours afore, but
+they didn't seem to find that sack, and Bob Pretty, wot was talking to
+'is wife, began to look 'opeful.
+
+But just then the squire came riding up with two friends as was staying
+with 'im, and he offered a reward of five shillings to the man wot found
+it.  Three or four of 'em waded in up to their middle then and raked
+their 'ardest, and at last Henery Walker give a cheer and brought it to
+the side, all heavy with water.
+
+"That's the sack I found, sir," ses Bob, starting up.  "It wasn't on your
+land at all, but on the field next to it.  I'm an honest, 'ardworking
+man, and I've never been in trouble afore.  Ask anybody 'ere and they'll
+tell you the same."
+
+Squire Rockett took no notice of 'im.  "Is that the sack?"  he asks,
+turning to Mr. Cutts.
+
+"That's the one, sir," ses Mr. Cutts.  "I'd swear to it anywhere."
+
+"You'd swear a man's life away," ses Bob.  "'Ow can you swear to it when
+it was dark?"
+
+Mr. Cutts didn't answer 'im.  He went down on 'is knees and cut the
+string that tied up the mouth o' the sack, and then 'e started back as if
+'e'd been shot, and 'is eyes a'most started out of 'is 'ead.
+
+"Wot's the matter?" ses the squire.
+
+Mr. Cutts couldn't speak; he could only stutter and point at the sack
+with 'is finger, and Henery Walker, as was getting curious, lifted up the
+other end of it and out rolled a score of as fine cabbages as you could
+wish to see.
+
+I never see people so astonished afore in all my born days, and as for
+Bob Pretty, 'e stood staring at them cabbages as if 'e couldn't believe
+'is eyesight.
+
+"And that's wot I've been kept 'ere all night for," he ses, at last,
+shaking his 'ead.  "That's wot comes o' trying to do a kindness to
+keepers, and 'elping of 'em in their difficult work.  P'r'aps that ain't
+the sack arter all, Mr. Cutts.  I could ha' sworn they was pheasants in
+the one I found, but I may be mistook, never 'aving 'ad one in my 'ands
+afore.  Or p'r'aps somebody was trying to 'ave a game with you, Mr.
+Cutts, and deceived me instead."
+
+The keepers on'y stared at 'im.
+
+"You ought to be more careful," ses Bob.  "Very likely while you was
+taking all that trouble over me, and Keeper Lewis was catching 'is death
+o' cold, the poachers was up at the plantation taking all they wanted.
+And, besides, it ain't right for Squire Rockett to 'ave to pay Henery
+Walker five shillings for finding a lot of old cabbages.  I shouldn't
+like it myself."
+
+[Illustration: "You ought to be more careful," ses Bob.]
+
+He looked out of the corner of 'is eye at the squire, as was pretending
+not to notice Henery Walker touching 'is cap to him, and then 'e turns to
+'is wife and he ses:
+
+"Come along, old gal," 'e ses.  "I want my breakfast bad, and arter that
+I shall 'ave to lose a honest day's work in bed."
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Persecution of Bob Pretty, by W.W. Jacobs
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+    By W. W. Jacobs: Part 9
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Persecution of Bob Pretty, by W.W. Jacobs
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Persecution of Bob Pretty
+       Odd Craft, Part 9.
+
+Author: W.W. Jacobs
+
+Release Date: April 30, 2004 [EBook #12209]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: US-ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PERSECUTION OF BOB PRETTY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+<br><br>
+<center>
+<img alt="title (42K)" src="title.jpg" height="658" width="479" />
+</center>
+<br><br>
+<br /><br />
+<h2>
+    1909
+</h2>
+
+<center>
+<h3>PART 9.</h3>
+</center>
+
+<br /><br />
+<hr>
+<br /><br />
+
+
+<h2>List of Illustrations</h2>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-43">
+"Poaching," Said the Old Man, "ain't Wot It Used to Be In
+These 'ere Parts."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-44">
+"I Shall 'ave 'em Afore Long,' Ses Mr. Cutts."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-45">
+"Three Men Burst out O' the Plantation."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-46">
+"Bob Pretty Pointed With 'is Finger Exactly Where 'e
+Thought It Was."
+</a></p>
+<p class="toc"><a href="#image-47">
+"You Ought to Be More Careful," Ses Bob.
+</a></p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<br /><br />
+<hr>
+<br /><br />
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<a name="2H_4_9"><!-- H2 anchor --></a>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h2>
+    THE PERSECUTION OF BOB PRETTY
+</h2>
+<p>
+    The old man sat on his accustomed bench outside the Cauliflower.  A
+    generous measure of beer stood in a blue and white jug by his elbow, and
+    little wisps of smoke curled slowly upward from the bowl of his
+    churchwarden pipe.  The knapsacks of two young men lay where they were
+    flung on the table, and the owners, taking a noon-tide rest, turned a
+    polite, if bored, ear to the reminiscences of grateful old age.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Poaching, said the old man, who had tried topics ranging from early
+    turnips to horseshoeing&mdash;poaching ain't wot it used to be in these 'ere
+    parts.  Nothing is like it used to be, poaching nor anything else; but
+    that there man you might ha' noticed as went out about ten minutes ago
+    and called me "Old Truthfulness" as 'e passed is the worst one I know.
+    Bob Pretty 'is name is, and of all the sly, artful, deceiving men that
+    ever lived in Claybury 'e is the worst&mdash;never did a honest day's work in
+    'is life and never wanted the price of a glass of ale.
+</p>
+<a name="image-43"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="043.jpg" height="521" width="592"
+alt="'poaching,' Said the Old Man, 'ain't Wot It Used to Be In
+These 'ere Parts.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty's worst time was just after old Squire Brown died.  The old
+    squire couldn't afford to preserve much, but by-and-by a gentleman with
+    plenty o' money, from London, named Rockett, took 'is place and things
+    began to look up.  Pheasants was 'is favourites, and 'e spent no end o'
+    money rearing of 'em, but anything that could be shot at suited 'im, too.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He started by sneering at the little game that Squire Brown 'ad left, but
+    all 'e could do didn't seem to make much difference; things disappeared
+    in a most eggstrordinary way, and the keepers went pretty near crazy,
+    while the things the squire said about Claybury and Claybury men was
+    disgraceful.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Everybody knew as it was Bob Pretty and one or two of 'is mates from
+    other places, but they couldn't prove it.  They couldn't catch 'im nohow,
+    and at last the squire 'ad two keepers set off to watch 'im by night and
+    by day.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty wouldn't believe it; he said 'e couldn't.  And even when it
+    was pointed out to 'im that Keeper Lewis was follering of 'im he said
+    that it just 'appened he was going the same way, that was all.  And
+    sometimes 'e'd get up in the middle of the night and go for a fifteen-
+    mile walk 'cos 'e'd got the toothache, and Mr. Lewis, who 'adn't got it,
+    had to tag along arter 'im till he was fit to drop.  O' course, it was
+    one keeper the less to look arter the game, and by-and-by the squire see
+    that and took 'im off.
+</p>
+<p>
+    All the same they kept a pretty close watch on Bob, and at last one
+    arternoon they sprang out on 'im as he was walking past Gray's farm, and
+    asked him wot it was he 'ad in his pockets.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "That's my bisness, Mr. Lewis," ses Bob Pretty.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Mr. Smith, the other keeper, passed 'is hands over Bob's coat and felt
+    something soft and bulgy.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You take your 'ands off of me," ses Bob; "you don't know 'ow partikler I
+    am."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He jerked 'imself away, but they caught 'old of 'im agin, and Mr. Lewis
+    put 'is hand in his inside pocket and pulled out two brace o' partridges.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You'll come along of us," he ses, catching 'im by the arm.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "We've been looking for you a long time," ses Keeper Smith, "and it's a
+    pleasure for us to 'ave your company."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty said 'e wouldn't go, but they forced 'im along and took 'im
+    all the way to Cudford, four miles off, so that Policeman White could
+    lock 'im up for the night.  Mr. White was a'most as pleased as the
+    keepers, and 'e warned Bob solemn not to speak becos all 'e said would be
+    used agin 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Never mind about that," ses Bob Pretty.  "I've got a clear conscience,
+    and talking can't 'urt me.  I'm very glad to see you, Mr. White; if these
+    two clever, experienced keepers hadn't brought me I should 'ave looked
+    you up myself.  They've been and stole my partridges."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Them as was standing round laughed, and even Policeman White couldn't
+    'elp giving a little smile.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "There's nothing to laugh at," ses Bob, 'olding his 'ead up.  "It's a
+    fine thing when a working man&mdash;a 'ardworking man&mdash;can't take home a
+    little game for 'is family without being stopped and robbed."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I s'pose they flew into your pocket?" ses Police-man White.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "No, they didn't," ses Bob.  "I'm not going to tell any lies about it;
+    I put 'em there.  The partridges in my inside coat-pocket and the bill in
+    my waistcoat-pocket."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "The bill?" ses Keeper Lewis, staring at 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Yes, the bill," ses Bob Pretty, staring back at 'im; "the bill from Mr.
+    Keen, the poulterer, at Wick-ham."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He fetched it out of 'is pocket and showed it to Mr. White, and the
+    keepers was like madmen a'most 'cos it was plain to see that Bob Pretty
+    'ad been and bought them partridges just for to play a game on 'em.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I was curious to know wot they tasted like," he ses to the policeman.
+    "Worst of it is, I don't s'pose my pore wife'll know 'ow to cook 'em."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You get off 'ome," ses Policeman White, staring at 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "But ain't I goin' to be locked up?"  ses Bob.  "'Ave I been brought all
+    this way just to 'ave a little chat with a policeman I don't like."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You go 'ome," ses Policeman White, handing the partridges back to 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "All right," ses Bob, "and I may 'ave to call you to witness that these
+    'ere two men laid hold o' me and tried to steal my partridges.  I shall
+    go up and see my loryer about it."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He walked off 'ome with his 'ead up as high as 'e could hold it, and the
+    airs 'e used to give 'imself arter this was terrible for to behold.  He
+    got 'is eldest boy to write a long letter to the squire about it, saying
+    that 'e'd overlook it this time, but 'e couldn't promise for the future.
+    Wot with Bob Pretty on one side and Squire Rockett on the other, them two
+    keepers' lives was 'ardly worth living.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Then the squire got a head-keeper named Cutts, a man as was said to know
+    more about the ways of poachers than they did themselves.  He was said to
+    'ave cleared out all the poachers for miles round the place 'e came from,
+    and pheasants could walk into people's cottages and not be touched.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He was a sharp-looking man, tall and thin, with screwed-up eyes and a
+    little red beard.  The second day 'e came 'e was up here at this 'ere
+    Cauliflower, having a pint o' beer and looking round at the chaps as he
+    talked to the landlord.  The odd thing was that men who'd never taken a
+    hare or a pheasant in their lives could 'ardly meet 'is eye, while Bob
+    Pretty stared at 'im as if 'e was a wax-works.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I 'ear you 'ad a little poaching in these parts afore I came," ses Mr.
+    Cutts to the landlord.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I think I 'ave 'eard something o' the kind," ses the landlord, staring
+    over his 'ead with a far-away look in 'is eyes.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You won't hear of much more," ses the keeper.  "I've invented a new way
+    of catching the dirty rascals; afore I came 'ere I caught all the
+    poachers on three estates.  I clear 'em out just like a ferret clears
+    out rats."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Sort o' man-trap?" ses the landlord.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Ah, that's tellings," ses Mr. Cutts.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, I 'ope you'll catch 'em here," ses Bob Pretty; "there's far too
+    many of 'em about for my liking.  Far too many."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I shall 'ave 'em afore long," ses Mr. Cutts, nodding his 'ead.
+</p>
+<a name="image-44"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="044.jpg" height="451" width="533"
+alt="'i Shall 'ave 'em Afore Long,' Ses Mr. Cutts.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    "Your good 'ealth," ses Bob Pretty, holding up 'is mug.  "We've been
+    wanting a man like you for a long time."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I don't want any of your impidence, my man," ses the keeper.  "I've
+    'eard about you, and nothing good either.  You be careful."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I am careful," ses Bob, winking at the others.  "I 'ope you'll catch all
+    them low poaching chaps; they give the place a bad name, and I'm a'most
+    afraid to go out arter dark for fear of meeting 'em."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Peter Gubbins and Sam Jones began to laugh, but Bob Pretty got angry with
+    'em and said he didn't see there was anything to laugh at.  He said that
+    poaching was a disgrace to their native place, and instead o' laughing
+    they ought to be thankful to Mr. Cutts for coming to do away with it all.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Any help I can give you shall be given cheerful," he ses to the keeper.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "When I want your help I'll ask you for it," ses Mr. Cutts.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Thankee," ses Bob Pretty.  "I on'y 'ope I sha'n't get my face knocked
+    about like yours 'as been, that's all; 'cos my wife's so partikler."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot d'ye mean?"  ses Mr. Cutts, turning on him.  "My face ain't been
+    knocked about."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Oh, I beg your pardin," ses Bob; "I didn't know it was natural."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Mr. Cutts went black in the face a'most and stared at Bob Pretty as if 'e
+    was going to eat 'im, and Bob stared back, looking fust at the keeper's
+    nose and then at 'is eyes and mouth, and then at 'is nose agin.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You'll know me agin, I s'pose?" ses Mr. Cutts, at last.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Yes," ses Bob, smiling; "I should know you a mile off&mdash;on the darkest
+    night."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "We shall see," ses Mr. Cutts, taking up 'is beer and turning 'is back on
+    him.  "Those of us as live the longest'll see the most."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I'm glad I've lived long enough to see 'im," ses Bob to Bill Chambers.
+    "I feel more satisfied with myself now."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bill Chambers coughed, and Mr. Cutts, arter finishing 'is beer, took
+    another look at Bob Pretty, and went off boiling a'most.
+</p>
+<p>
+    The trouble he took to catch Bob Pretty arter that you wouldn't believe,
+    and all the time the game seemed to be simply melting away, and Squire
+    Rockett was finding fault with 'im all day long.  He was worn to a
+    shadder a'most with watching, and Bob Pretty seemed to be more prosperous
+    than ever.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Sometimes Mr. Cutts watched in the plantations, and sometimes 'e hid
+    'imself near Bob's house, and at last one night, when 'e was crouching
+    behind the fence of Frederick Scott's front garden, 'e saw Bob Pretty
+    come out of 'is house and, arter a careful look round, walk up the road.
+    He held 'is breath as Bob passed 'im, and was just getting up to foller
+    'im when Bob stopped and walked slowly back agin, sniffing.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot a delicious smell o' roses!"  he ses, out loud.
+</p>
+<p>
+    He stood in the middle o' the road nearly opposite where the keeper was
+    hiding, and sniffed so that you could ha' 'eard him the other end o' the
+    village.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "It can't be roses," he ses, in a puzzled voice, "be-cos there ain't no
+    roses hereabouts, and, besides, it's late for 'em.  It must be Mr. Cutts,
+    the clever new keeper."
+</p>
+<p>
+    He put his 'ead over the fence and bid 'im good evening, and said wot a
+    fine night for a stroll it was, and asked 'im whether 'e was waiting for
+    Frederick Scott's aunt.  Mr. Cutts didn't answer 'im a word; 'e was
+    pretty near bursting with passion.  He got up and shook 'is fist in Bob
+    Pretty's face, and then 'e went off stamping down the road as if 'e was
+    going mad.
+</p>
+<p>
+    And for a time Bob Pretty seemed to 'ave all the luck on 'is side.
+    Keeper Lewis got rheumatic fever, which 'e put down to sitting about
+    night arter night in damp places watching for Bob, and, while 'e was in
+    the thick of it, with the doctor going every day, Mr. Cutts fell in
+    getting over a fence and broke 'is leg.  Then all the work fell on Keeper
+    Smith, and to 'ear 'im talk you'd think that rheumatic fever and broken
+    legs was better than anything else in the world.  He asked the squire for
+    'elp, but the squire wouldn't give it to 'im, and he kept telling 'im wot
+    a feather in 'is cap it would be if 'e did wot the other two couldn't do,
+    and caught Bob Pretty.  It was all very well, but, as Smith said, wot 'e
+    wanted was feathers in 'is piller, instead of 'aving to snatch a bit o'
+    sleep in 'is chair or sitting down with his 'ead agin a tree.  When I
+    tell you that 'e fell asleep in this public-'ouse one night while the
+    landlord was drawing a pint o' beer he 'ad ordered, you'll know wot 'e
+    suffered.
+</p>
+<p>
+    O' course, all this suited Bob Pretty as well as could be, and 'e was
+    that good-tempered 'e'd got a nice word for everybody, and when Bill
+    Chambers told 'im 'e was foolhardy 'e only laughed and said 'e knew wot
+    'e was about.
+</p>
+<p>
+    But the very next night 'e had reason to remember Bill Chambers's words.
+    He was walking along Farmer Hall's field&mdash;the one next to the squire's
+    plantation&mdash;and, so far from being nervous, 'e was actually a-whistling.
+    He'd got a sack over 'is shoulder, loaded as full as it could be, and 'e
+    'ad just stopped to light 'is pipe when three men burst out o' the
+    plantation and ran toward 'im as 'ard as they could run.
+</p>
+<a name="image-45"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="045.jpg" height="675" width="498"
+alt="'three Men Burst out O' the Plantation.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty just gave one look and then 'e dropped 'is pipe and set off
+    like a hare.  It was no good dropping the sack, because Smith, the
+    keeper, 'ad recognised 'im and called 'im by name, so 'e just put 'is
+    teeth together and did the best he could, and there's no doubt that if it
+    'adn't ha' been for the sack 'e could 'ave got clear away.
+</p>
+<p>
+    As it was, 'e ran for pretty near a mile, and they could 'ear 'im
+    breathing like a pair o' bellows; but at last 'e saw that the game was
+    up.  He just man-aged to struggle as far as Farmer Pinnock's pond, and
+    then, waving the sack round his 'ead, 'e flung it into the middle of it,
+    and fell down gasping for breath.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Got&mdash;you&mdash;this time&mdash;Bob Pretty," ses one o' the men, as they came up.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot&mdash;Mr. Cutts?"  ses Bob, with a start.  "That's me, my man," ses the
+    keeper.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Why&mdash;I thought&mdash;you was.  Is that Mr. Lewis?  It can't be."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "That's me," ses Keeper Lewis.  "We both got well sudden-like, Bob
+    Pretty, when we 'eard you was out.  You ain't so sharp as you thought you
+    was."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty sat still, getting 'is breath back and doing a bit o' thinking
+    at the same time.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You give me a start," he ses, at last.  "I thought you was both in bed,
+    and, knowing 'ow hard worked Mr. Smith 'as been, I just came round to
+    'elp 'im keep watch like.  I promised to 'elp you, Mr. Cutts, if you
+    remember."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot was that you threw in the pond just now?" ses Mr. Cutts.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "A sack," ses Bob Pretty; "a sack I found in Farmer Hall's field.  It
+    felt to me as though it might 'ave birds in it, so I picked it up, and I
+    was just on my way to your 'ouse with it, Mr. Cutts, when you started
+    arter me."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Ah!" ses the keeper, "and wot did you run for?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty tried to laugh.  "Becos I thought it was the poachers arter
+    me," he ses.  "It seems ridikilous, don't it?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Yes, it does," ses Lewis.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I thought you'd know me a mile off," ses Mr. Cutts.  "I should ha'
+    thought the smell o' roses would ha' told you I was near."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty scratched 'is 'ead and looked at 'im out of the corner of 'is
+    eye, but he 'adn't got any answer.  Then 'e sat biting his finger-nails
+    and thinking while the keepers stood argyfying as to who should take 'is
+    clothes off and go into the pond arter the pheasants.  It was a very cold
+    night and the pond was pretty deep in places, and none of 'em seemed
+    anxious.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Make 'im go in for it," ses Lewis, looking at Bob; "'e chucked it in."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "On'y Becos I thought you was poachers," ses Bob.  "I'm sorry to 'ave
+    caused so much trouble."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, you go in and get it out," ses Lewis, who pretty well guessed
+    who'd 'ave to do it if Bob didn't.  "It'll look better for you, too."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I've got my defence all right," ses Bob Pretty.  "I ain't set a foot on
+    the squire's preserves, and I found this sack a 'undred yards away from
+    it."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Don't waste more time," ses Mr. Cutts to Lewis.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Off with your clothes and in with you.  Anybody'd think you was afraid
+    of a little cold water."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Whereabouts did 'e pitch it in?"  ses Lewis.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Bob Pretty pointed with 'is finger exactly where 'e thought it was, but
+    they wouldn't listen to 'im, and then Lewis, arter twice saying wot a bad
+    cold he'd got, took 'is coat off very slow and careful.
+</p>
+<a name="image-46"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="046.jpg" height="555" width="538"
+alt="'bob Pretty Pointed With 'is Finger Exactly Where 'e
+Thought It Was.'
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    "I wouldn't mind going in to oblige you," ses Bob Pretty, "but the pond
+    is so full o' them cold, slimy efts; I don't fancy them crawling up agin
+    me, and, besides that, there's such a lot o' deep holes in it.  And
+    wotever you do don't put your 'ead under; you know 'ow foul that water
+    is."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Keeper Lewis pretended not to listen to 'im.  He took off 'is clothes
+    very slowly and then 'e put one foot in and stood shivering, although
+    Smith, who felt the water with his 'and, said it was quite warm.  Then
+    Lewis put the other foot in and began to walk about careful, 'arf-way up
+    to 'is knees.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I can't find it," he ses, with 'is teeth chattering.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You 'aven't looked," ses Mr. Cutts; "walk about more; you can't expect
+    to find it all at once.  Try the middle."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Lewis tried the middle, and 'e stood there up to 'is neck, feeling about
+    with his foot and saying things out loud about Bob Pretty, and other
+    things under 'is breath about Mr. Cutts.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Well, I'm going off 'ome," ses Bob Pretty, getting up.  "I'm too
+    tender-'arted to stop and see a man drownded."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You stay 'ere," ses Mr. Cutts, catching 'old of him.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot for?" ses Bob; "you've got no right to keep me 'ere."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Catch 'old of 'im, Joe," ses Mr. Cutts, quick-like.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Smith caught 'old of his other arm, and Lewis left off trying to find the
+    sack to watch the struggle.  Bob Pretty fought 'ard, and once or twice 'e
+    nearly tumbled Mr. Cutts into the pond, but at last 'e gave in and lay
+    down panting and talking about 'is loryer.  Smith 'eld him down on the
+    ground while Mr. Cutts kept pointing out places with 'is finger for Lewis
+    to walk to.  The last place 'e pointed to wanted a much taller man, but
+    it wasn't found out till too late, and the fuss Keeper Lewis made when 'e
+    could speak agin was terrible.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You'd better come out," ses Mr. Cutts; "you ain't doing no good.  We
+    know where they are and we'll watch the pond till daylight&mdash;that is,
+    unless Smith 'ud like to 'ave a try."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "It's pretty near daylight now, I think," ses Smith.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Lewis came out and ran up and down to dry 'imself, and finished off on
+    'is pocket-'andkerchief, and then with 'is teeth chattering 'e began to
+    dress 'imself.  He got 'is shirt on, and then 'e stood turning over 'is
+    clothes as if 'e was looking for something.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Never mind about your stud now," ses Mr. Cutts; "hurry up and dress."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Stud?" ses Lewis, very snappish.  "I'm looking for my trowsis."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Your trowsis?" ses Smith, 'elping 'im look.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I put all my clothes together," ses Lewis, a'most shouting.  "Where are
+    they?  I'm 'arf perished with cold.  Where are they?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    "He 'ad 'em on this evening," ses Bob Pretty, "'cos I remember noticing
+    'em."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "They must be somewhere about," ses Mr. Cutts; "why don't you use your
+    eyes?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    He walked up and down, peering about, and as for Lewis he was 'opping
+    round 'arf crazy.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I wonder," ses Bob Pretty, in a thoughtful voice, to Smith&mdash;"I wonder
+    whether you or Mr. Cutts kicked 'em in the pond while you was struggling
+    with me.  Come to think of it, I seem to remember 'earing a splash."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "He's done it, Mr. Cutts," ses Smith; "never mind, it'll go all the
+    'arder with 'im."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "But I do mind," ses Lewis, shouting.  "I'll be even with you for this,
+    Bob Pretty.  I'll make you feel it.  You wait till I've done with you.
+    You'll get a month extra for this, you see if you don't."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Don't you mind about me," ses Bob; "you run off 'ome and cover up them
+    legs of yours.  I found that sack, so my conscience is clear."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Lewis put on 'is coat and waistcoat and set off, and Mr. Cutts and Smith,
+    arter feeling about for a dry place, set theirselves down and began to
+    smoke.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Look 'ere," ses Bob Pretty, "I'm not going to sit 'ere all night to
+    please you; I'm going off 'ome.  If you want me you'll know where to find
+    me."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You stay where you are," ses Mr. Cutts.  "We ain't going to let you out
+    of our sight."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Very well, then, you take me 'ome," ses Bob.  "I'm not going to catch my
+    death o' cold sitting 'ere.  I'm not used to being out of a night like
+    you are.  I was brought up respectable."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "I dare say," ses Mr. Cutts.  "Take you 'ome, and then 'ave one o' your
+    mates come and get the sack while we're away."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Then Bob Pretty lost 'is temper, and the things 'e said about Mr. Cutts
+    wasn't fit for Smith to 'ear.  He threw 'imself down at last full length
+    on the ground and sulked till the day broke.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Keeper Lewis was there a'most as soon as it was light, with some long
+    hay-rakes he'd borrowed, and I should think that pretty near 'arf the
+    folks in Clay-bury 'ad turned up to see the fun.  Mrs. Pretty was crying
+    and wringing 'er 'ands; but most folks seemed to be rather pleased that
+    Bob 'ad been caught at last.
+</p>
+<p>
+    In next to no time 'arf-a-dozen rakes was at work, and the things they
+    brought out o' that pond you wouldn't believe.  The edge of it was all
+    littered with rusty tin pails and saucepans and such-like, and by-and-by
+    Lewis found the things he'd 'ad to go 'ome without a few hours afore, but
+    they didn't seem to find that sack, and Bob Pretty, wot was talking to
+    'is wife, began to look 'opeful.
+</p>
+<p>
+    But just then the squire came riding up with two friends as was staying
+    with 'im, and he offered a reward of five shillings to the man wot found
+    it.  Three or four of 'em waded in up to their middle then and raked
+    their 'ardest, and at last Henery Walker give a cheer and brought it to
+    the side, all heavy with water.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "That's the sack I found, sir," ses Bob, starting up.  "It wasn't on your
+    land at all, but on the field next to it.  I'm an honest, 'ardworking
+    man, and I've never been in trouble afore.  Ask anybody 'ere and they'll
+    tell you the same."
+</p>
+<p>
+    Squire Rockett took no notice of 'im.  "Is that the sack?"  he asks,
+    turning to Mr. Cutts.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "That's the one, sir," ses Mr. Cutts.  "I'd swear to it anywhere."
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You'd swear a man's life away," ses Bob.  "'Ow can you swear to it when
+    it was dark?"
+</p>
+<p>
+    Mr. Cutts didn't answer 'im.  He went down on 'is knees and cut the
+    string that tied up the mouth o' the sack, and then 'e started back as if
+    'e'd been shot, and 'is eyes a'most started out of 'is 'ead.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Wot's the matter?" ses the squire.
+</p>
+<p>
+    Mr. Cutts couldn't speak; he could only stutter and point at the sack
+    with 'is finger, and Henery Walker, as was getting curious, lifted up the
+    other end of it and out rolled a score of as fine cabbages as you could
+    wish to see.
+</p>
+<p>
+    I never see people so astonished afore in all my born days, and as for
+    Bob Pretty, 'e stood staring at them cabbages as if 'e couldn't believe
+    'is eyesight.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "And that's wot I've been kept 'ere all night for," he ses, at last,
+    shaking his 'ead.  "That's wot comes o' trying to do a kindness to
+    keepers, and 'elping of 'em in their difficult work.  P'r'aps that ain't
+    the sack arter all, Mr. Cutts.  I could ha' sworn they was pheasants in
+    the one I found, but I may be mistook, never 'aving 'ad one in my 'ands
+    afore.  Or p'r'aps somebody was trying to 'ave a game with you, Mr.
+    Cutts, and deceived me instead."
+</p>
+<p>
+    The keepers on'y stared at 'im.
+</p>
+<p>
+    "You ought to be more careful," ses Bob.  "Very likely while you was
+    taking all that trouble over me, and Keeper Lewis was catching 'is death
+    o' cold, the poachers was up at the plantation taking all they wanted.
+    And, besides, it ain't right for Squire Rockett to 'ave to pay Henery
+    Walker five shillings for finding a lot of old cabbages.  I shouldn't
+    like it myself."
+</p>
+<a name="image-47"><!--IMG--></a>
+<center>
+<img src="047.jpg" height="551" width="580"
+alt="'you Ought to Be More Careful,' Ses Bob.
+">
+</center>
+<!--IMAGE END-->
+<p>
+    He looked out of the corner of 'is eye at the squire, as was pretending
+    not to notice Henery Walker touching 'is cap to him, and then 'e turns to
+    'is wife and he ses:
+</p>
+<p>
+    "Come along, old gal," 'e ses.  "I want my breakfast bad, and arter that
+    I shall 'ave to lose a honest day's work in bed."
+</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Persecution of Bob Pretty, by W.W. Jacobs
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Persecution of Bob Pretty
+       Odd Craft, Part 9.
+
+Author: W.W. Jacobs
+
+Release Date: April 30, 2004 [EBook #12209]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PERSECUTION OF BOB PRETTY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+ODD CRAFT
+
+By W.W. Jacobs
+
+
+
+THE PERSECUTION OF BOB PRETTY
+
+The old man sat on his accustomed bench outside the Cauliflower.  A
+generous measure of beer stood in a blue and white jug by his elbow, and
+little wisps of smoke curled slowly upward from the bowl of his
+churchwarden pipe.  The knapsacks of two young men lay where they were
+flung on the table, and the owners, taking a noon-tide rest, turned a
+polite, if bored, ear to the reminiscences of grateful old age.
+
+Poaching, said the old man, who had tried topics ranging from early
+turnips to horseshoeing--poaching ain't wot it used to be in these 'ere
+parts.  Nothing is like it used to be, poaching nor anything else; but
+that there man you might ha' noticed as went out about ten minutes ago
+and called me "Old Truthfulness" as 'e passed is the worst one I know.
+Bob Pretty 'is name is, and of all the sly, artful, deceiving men that
+ever lived in Claybury 'e is the worst--never did a honest day's work in
+'is life and never wanted the price of a glass of ale.
+
+[Illustration: "Poaching," said the old man, "ain't wot it used to be in
+these 'ere parts."]
+
+Bob Pretty's worst time was just after old Squire Brown died.  The old
+squire couldn't afford to preserve much, but by-and-by a gentleman with
+plenty o' money, from London, named Rockett, took 'is place and things
+began to look up.  Pheasants was 'is favourites, and 'e spent no end o'
+money rearing of 'em, but anything that could be shot at suited 'im, too.
+
+He started by sneering at the little game that Squire Brown 'ad left, but
+all 'e could do didn't seem to make much difference; things disappeared
+in a most eggstrordinary way, and the keepers went pretty near crazy,
+while the things the squire said about Claybury and Claybury men was
+disgraceful.
+
+Everybody knew as it was Bob Pretty and one or two of 'is mates from
+other places, but they couldn't prove it.  They couldn't catch 'im nohow,
+and at last the squire 'ad two keepers set off to watch 'im by night and
+by day.
+
+Bob Pretty wouldn't believe it; he said 'e couldn't.  And even when it
+was pointed out to 'im that Keeper Lewis was follering of 'im he said
+that it just 'appened he was going the same way, that was all.  And
+sometimes 'e'd get up in the middle of the night and go for a fifteen-
+mile walk 'cos 'e'd got the toothache, and Mr. Lewis, who 'adn't got it,
+had to tag along arter 'im till he was fit to drop.  O' course, it was
+one keeper the less to look arter the game, and by-and-by the squire see
+that and took 'im off.
+
+All the same they kept a pretty close watch on Bob, and at last one
+arternoon they sprang out on 'im as he was walking past Gray's farm, and
+asked him wot it was he 'ad in his pockets.
+
+"That's my bisness, Mr. Lewis," ses Bob Pretty.
+
+Mr. Smith, the other keeper, passed 'is hands over Bob's coat and felt
+something soft and bulgy.
+
+"You take your 'ands off of me," ses Bob; "you don't know 'ow partikler I
+am."
+
+He jerked 'imself away, but they caught 'old of 'im agin, and Mr. Lewis
+put 'is hand in his inside pocket and pulled out two brace o' partridges.
+
+"You'll come along of us," he ses, catching 'im by the arm.
+
+"We've been looking for you a long time," ses Keeper Smith, "and it's a
+pleasure for us to 'ave your company."
+
+Bob Pretty said 'e wouldn't go, but they forced 'im along and took 'im
+all the way to Cudford, four miles off, so that Policeman White could
+lock 'im up for the night.  Mr. White was a'most as pleased as the
+keepers, and 'e warned Bob solemn not to speak becos all 'e said would be
+used agin 'im.
+
+"Never mind about that," ses Bob Pretty.  "I've got a clear conscience,
+and talking can't 'urt me.  I'm very glad to see you, Mr. White; if these
+two clever, experienced keepers hadn't brought me I should 'ave looked
+you up myself.  They've been and stole my partridges."
+
+Them as was standing round laughed, and even Policeman White couldn't
+'elp giving a little smile.
+
+"There's nothing to laugh at," ses Bob, 'olding his 'ead up.  "It's a
+fine thing when a working man--a 'ardworking man--can't take home a
+little game for 'is family without being stopped and robbed."
+
+"I s'pose they flew into your pocket?" ses Police-man White.
+
+"No, they didn't," ses Bob.  "I'm not going to tell any lies about it;
+I put 'em there.  The partridges in my inside coat-pocket and the bill in
+my waistcoat-pocket."
+
+"The bill?" ses Keeper Lewis, staring at 'im.
+
+"Yes, the bill," ses Bob Pretty, staring back at 'im; "the bill from Mr.
+Keen, the poulterer, at Wick-ham."
+
+He fetched it out of 'is pocket and showed it to Mr. White, and the
+keepers was like madmen a'most 'cos it was plain to see that Bob Pretty
+'ad been and bought them partridges just for to play a game on 'em.
+
+"I was curious to know wot they tasted like," he ses to the policeman.
+"Worst of it is, I don't s'pose my pore wife'll know 'ow to cook 'em."
+
+"You get off 'ome," ses Policeman White, staring at 'im.
+
+"But ain't I goin' to be locked up?"  ses Bob.  "'Ave I been brought all
+this way just to 'ave a little chat with a policeman I don't like."
+
+"You go 'ome," ses Policeman White, handing the partridges back to 'im.
+
+"All right," ses Bob, "and I may 'ave to call you to witness that these
+'ere two men laid hold o' me and tried to steal my partridges.  I shall
+go up and see my loryer about it."
+
+He walked off 'ome with his 'ead up as high as 'e could hold it, and the
+airs 'e used to give 'imself arter this was terrible for to behold.  He
+got 'is eldest boy to write a long letter to the squire about it, saying
+that 'e'd overlook it this time, but 'e couldn't promise for the future.
+Wot with Bob Pretty on one side and Squire Rockett on the other, them two
+keepers' lives was 'ardly worth living.
+
+Then the squire got a head-keeper named Cutts, a man as was said to know
+more about the ways of poachers than they did themselves.  He was said to
+'ave cleared out all the poachers for miles round the place 'e came from,
+and pheasants could walk into people's cottages and not be touched.
+
+He was a sharp-looking man, tall and thin, with screwed-up eyes and a
+little red beard.  The second day 'e came 'e was up here at this 'ere
+Cauliflower, having a pint o' beer and looking round at the chaps as he
+talked to the landlord.  The odd thing was that men who'd never taken a
+hare or a pheasant in their lives could 'ardly meet 'is eye, while Bob
+Pretty stared at 'im as if 'e was a wax-works.
+
+"I 'ear you 'ad a little poaching in these parts afore I came," ses Mr.
+Cutts to the landlord.
+
+"I think I 'ave 'eard something o' the kind," ses the landlord, staring
+over his 'ead with a far-away look in 'is eyes.
+
+"You won't hear of much more," ses the keeper.  "I've invented a new way
+of catching the dirty rascals; afore I came 'ere I caught all the
+poachers on three estates.  I clear 'em out just like a ferret clears
+out rats."
+
+"Sort o' man-trap?" ses the landlord.
+
+"Ah, that's tellings," ses Mr. Cutts.
+
+"Well, I 'ope you'll catch 'em here," ses Bob Pretty; "there's far too
+many of 'em about for my liking.  Far too many."
+
+"I shall 'ave 'em afore long," ses Mr. Cutts, nodding his 'ead.
+
+[Illustration: "I shall 'ave 'em afore long,' ses Mr. Cutts."]
+
+"Your good 'ealth," ses Bob Pretty, holding up 'is mug.  "We've been
+wanting a man like you for a long time."
+
+"I don't want any of your impidence, my man," ses the keeper.  "I've
+'eard about you, and nothing good either.  You be careful."
+
+"I am careful," ses Bob, winking at the others.  "I 'ope you'll catch all
+them low poaching chaps; they give the place a bad name, and I'm a'most
+afraid to go out arter dark for fear of meeting 'em."
+
+Peter Gubbins and Sam Jones began to laugh, but Bob Pretty got angry with
+'em and said he didn't see there was anything to laugh at.  He said that
+poaching was a disgrace to their native place, and instead o' laughing
+they ought to be thankful to Mr. Cutts for coming to do away with it all.
+
+"Any help I can give you shall be given cheerful," he ses to the keeper.
+
+"When I want your help I'll ask you for it," ses Mr. Cutts.
+
+"Thankee," ses Bob Pretty.  "I on'y 'ope I sha'n't get my face knocked
+about like yours 'as been, that's all; 'cos my wife's so partikler."
+
+"Wot d'ye mean?"  ses Mr. Cutts, turning on him.  "My face ain't been
+knocked about."
+
+"Oh, I beg your pardin," ses Bob; "I didn't know it was natural."
+
+Mr. Cutts went black in the face a'most and stared at Bob Pretty as if 'e
+was going to eat 'im, and Bob stared back, looking fust at the keeper's
+nose and then at 'is eyes and mouth, and then at 'is nose agin.
+
+"You'll know me agin, I s'pose?" ses Mr. Cutts, at last.
+
+"Yes," ses Bob, smiling; "I should know you a mile off--on the darkest
+night."
+
+"We shall see," ses Mr. Cutts, taking up 'is beer and turning 'is back on
+him.  "Those of us as live the longest'll see the most."
+
+"I'm glad I've lived long enough to see 'im," ses Bob to Bill Chambers.
+"I feel more satisfied with myself now."
+
+Bill Chambers coughed, and Mr. Cutts, arter finishing 'is beer, took
+another look at Bob Pretty, and went off boiling a'most.
+
+The trouble he took to catch Bob Pretty arter that you wouldn't believe,
+and all the time the game seemed to be simply melting away, and Squire
+Rockett was finding fault with 'im all day long.  He was worn to a
+shadder a'most with watching, and Bob Pretty seemed to be more prosperous
+than ever.
+
+Sometimes Mr. Cutts watched in the plantations, and sometimes 'e hid
+'imself near Bob's house, and at last one night, when 'e was crouching
+behind the fence of Frederick Scott's front garden, 'e saw Bob Pretty
+come out of 'is house and, arter a careful look round, walk up the road.
+He held 'is breath as Bob passed 'im, and was just getting up to foller
+'im when Bob stopped and walked slowly back agin, sniffing.
+
+"Wot a delicious smell o' roses!"  he ses, out loud.
+
+He stood in the middle o' the road nearly opposite where the keeper was
+hiding, and sniffed so that you could ha' 'eard him the other end o' the
+village.
+
+"It can't be roses," he ses, in a puzzled voice, "be-cos there ain't no
+roses hereabouts, and, besides, it's late for 'em.  It must be Mr. Cutts,
+the clever new keeper."
+
+He put his 'ead over the fence and bid 'im good evening, and said wot a
+fine night for a stroll it was, and asked 'im whether 'e was waiting for
+Frederick Scott's aunt.  Mr. Cutts didn't answer 'im a word; 'e was
+pretty near bursting with passion.  He got up and shook 'is fist in Bob
+Pretty's face, and then 'e went off stamping down the road as if 'e was
+going mad.
+
+And for a time Bob Pretty seemed to 'ave all the luck on 'is side.
+Keeper Lewis got rheumatic fever, which 'e put down to sitting about
+night arter night in damp places watching for Bob, and, while 'e was in
+the thick of it, with the doctor going every day, Mr. Cutts fell in
+getting over a fence and broke 'is leg.  Then all the work fell on Keeper
+Smith, and to 'ear 'im talk you'd think that rheumatic fever and broken
+legs was better than anything else in the world.  He asked the squire for
+'elp, but the squire wouldn't give it to 'im, and he kept telling 'im wot
+a feather in 'is cap it would be if 'e did wot the other two couldn't do,
+and caught Bob Pretty.  It was all very well, but, as Smith said, wot 'e
+wanted was feathers in 'is piller, instead of 'aving to snatch a bit o'
+sleep in 'is chair or sitting down with his 'ead agin a tree.  When I
+tell you that 'e fell asleep in this public-'ouse one night while the
+landlord was drawing a pint o' beer he 'ad ordered, you'll know wot 'e
+suffered.
+
+O' course, all this suited Bob Pretty as well as could be, and 'e was
+that good-tempered 'e'd got a nice word for everybody, and when Bill
+Chambers told 'im 'e was foolhardy 'e only laughed and said 'e knew wot
+'e was about.
+
+But the very next night 'e had reason to remember Bill Chambers's words.
+He was walking along Farmer Hall's field--the one next to the squire's
+plantation--and, so far from being nervous, 'e was actually a-whistling.
+He'd got a sack over 'is shoulder, loaded as full as it could be, and 'e
+'ad just stopped to light 'is pipe when three men burst out o' the
+plantation and ran toward 'im as 'ard as they could run.
+
+[Illustration: "Three men burst out o' the plantation."]
+
+Bob Pretty just gave one look and then 'e dropped 'is pipe and set off
+like a hare.  It was no good dropping the sack, because Smith, the
+keeper, 'ad recognised 'im and called 'im by name, so 'e just put 'is
+teeth together and did the best he could, and there's no doubt that if it
+'adn't ha' been for the sack 'e could 'ave got clear away.
+
+As it was, 'e ran for pretty near a mile, and they could 'ear 'im
+breathing like a pair o' bellows; but at last 'e saw that the game was
+up.  He just man-aged to struggle as far as Farmer Pinnock's pond, and
+then, waving the sack round his 'ead, 'e flung it into the middle of it,
+and fell down gasping for breath.
+
+"Got--you--this time--Bob Pretty," ses one o' the men, as they came up.
+
+"Wot--Mr. Cutts?"  ses Bob, with a start.  "That's me, my man," ses the
+keeper.
+
+"Why--I thought--you was.  Is that Mr. Lewis?  It can't be."
+
+"That's me," ses Keeper Lewis.  "We both got well sudden-like, Bob
+Pretty, when we 'eard you was out.  You ain't so sharp as you thought you
+was."
+
+Bob Pretty sat still, getting 'is breath back and doing a bit o' thinking
+at the same time.
+
+"You give me a start," he ses, at last.  "I thought you was both in bed,
+and, knowing 'ow hard worked Mr. Smith 'as been, I just came round to
+'elp 'im keep watch like.  I promised to 'elp you, Mr. Cutts, if you
+remember."
+
+"Wot was that you threw in the pond just now?" ses Mr. Cutts.
+
+"A sack," ses Bob Pretty; "a sack I found in Farmer Hall's field.  It
+felt to me as though it might 'ave birds in it, so I picked it up, and I
+was just on my way to your 'ouse with it, Mr. Cutts, when you started
+arter me."
+
+"Ah!" ses the keeper, "and wot did you run for?"
+
+Bob Pretty tried to laugh.  "Becos I thought it was the poachers arter
+me," he ses.  "It seems ridikilous, don't it?"
+
+"Yes, it does," ses Lewis.
+
+"I thought you'd know me a mile off," ses Mr. Cutts.  "I should ha'
+thought the smell o' roses would ha' told you I was near."
+
+Bob Pretty scratched 'is 'ead and looked at 'im out of the corner of 'is
+eye, but he 'adn't got any answer.  Then 'e sat biting his finger-nails
+and thinking while the keepers stood argyfying as to who should take 'is
+clothes off and go into the pond arter the pheasants.  It was a very cold
+night and the pond was pretty deep in places, and none of 'em seemed
+anxious.
+
+"Make 'im go in for it," ses Lewis, looking at Bob; "'e chucked it in."
+
+"On'y Becos I thought you was poachers," ses Bob.  "I'm sorry to 'ave
+caused so much trouble."
+
+"Well, you go in and get it out," ses Lewis, who pretty well guessed
+who'd 'ave to do it if Bob didn't.  "It'll look better for you, too."
+
+"I've got my defence all right," ses Bob Pretty.  "I ain't set a foot on
+the squire's preserves, and I found this sack a 'undred yards away from
+it."
+
+"Don't waste more time," ses Mr. Cutts to Lewis.
+
+"Off with your clothes and in with you.  Anybody'd think you was afraid
+of a little cold water."
+
+"Whereabouts did 'e pitch it in?"  ses Lewis.
+
+Bob Pretty pointed with 'is finger exactly where 'e thought it was, but
+they wouldn't listen to 'im, and then Lewis, arter twice saying wot a bad
+cold he'd got, took 'is coat off very slow and careful.
+
+[Illustration: "Bob Pretty pointed with 'is finger exactly where 'e
+thought it was."]
+
+"I wouldn't mind going in to oblige you," ses Bob Pretty, "but the pond
+is so full o' them cold, slimy efts; I don't fancy them crawling up agin
+me, and, besides that, there's such a lot o' deep holes in it.  And
+wotever you do don't put your 'ead under; you know 'ow foul that water
+is."
+
+Keeper Lewis pretended not to listen to 'im.  He took off 'is clothes
+very slowly and then 'e put one foot in and stood shivering, although
+Smith, who felt the water with his 'and, said it was quite warm.  Then
+Lewis put the other foot in and began to walk about careful, 'arf-way up
+to 'is knees.
+
+"I can't find it," he ses, with 'is teeth chattering.
+
+"You 'aven't looked," ses Mr. Cutts; "walk about more; you can't expect
+to find it all at once.  Try the middle."
+
+Lewis tried the middle, and 'e stood there up to 'is neck, feeling about
+with his foot and saying things out loud about Bob Pretty, and other
+things under 'is breath about Mr. Cutts.
+
+"Well, I'm going off 'ome," ses Bob Pretty, getting up.  "I'm too
+tender-'arted to stop and see a man drownded."
+
+"You stay 'ere," ses Mr. Cutts, catching 'old of him.
+
+"Wot for?" ses Bob; "you've got no right to keep me 'ere."
+
+"Catch 'old of 'im, Joe," ses Mr. Cutts, quick-like.
+
+Smith caught 'old of his other arm, and Lewis left off trying to find the
+sack to watch the struggle.  Bob Pretty fought 'ard, and once or twice 'e
+nearly tumbled Mr. Cutts into the pond, but at last 'e gave in and lay
+down panting and talking about 'is loryer.  Smith 'eld him down on the
+ground while Mr. Cutts kept pointing out places with 'is finger for Lewis
+to walk to.  The last place 'e pointed to wanted a much taller man, but
+it wasn't found out till too late, and the fuss Keeper Lewis made when 'e
+could speak agin was terrible.
+
+"You'd better come out," ses Mr. Cutts; "you ain't doing no good.  We
+know where they are and we'll watch the pond till daylight--that is,
+unless Smith 'ud like to 'ave a try."
+
+"It's pretty near daylight now, I think," ses Smith.
+
+Lewis came out and ran up and down to dry 'imself, and finished off on
+'is pocket-'andkerchief, and then with 'is teeth chattering 'e began to
+dress 'imself.  He got 'is shirt on, and then 'e stood turning over 'is
+clothes as if 'e was looking for something.
+
+"Never mind about your stud now," ses Mr. Cutts; "hurry up and dress."
+
+"Stud?" ses Lewis, very snappish.  "I'm looking for my trowsis."
+
+"Your trowsis?" ses Smith, 'elping 'im look.
+
+"I put all my clothes together," ses Lewis, a'most shouting.  "Where are
+they?  I'm 'arf perished with cold.  Where are they?"
+
+"He 'ad 'em on this evening," ses Bob Pretty, "'cos I remember noticing
+'em."
+
+"They must be somewhere about," ses Mr. Cutts; "why don't you use your
+eyes?"
+
+He walked up and down, peering about, and as for Lewis he was 'opping
+round 'arf crazy.
+
+"I wonder," ses Bob Pretty, in a thoughtful voice, to Smith--"I wonder
+whether you or Mr. Cutts kicked 'em in the pond while you was struggling
+with me.  Come to think of it, I seem to remember 'earing a splash."
+
+"He's done it, Mr. Cutts," ses Smith; "never mind, it'll go all the
+'arder with 'im."
+
+"But I do mind," ses Lewis, shouting.  "I'll be even with you for this,
+Bob Pretty.  I'll make you feel it.  You wait till I've done with you.
+You'll get a month extra for this, you see if you don't."
+
+"Don't you mind about me," ses Bob; "you run off 'ome and cover up them
+legs of yours.  I found that sack, so my conscience is clear."
+
+Lewis put on 'is coat and waistcoat and set off, and Mr. Cutts and Smith,
+arter feeling about for a dry place, set theirselves down and began to
+smoke.
+
+"Look 'ere," ses Bob Pretty, "I'm not going to sit 'ere all night to
+please you; I'm going off 'ome.  If you want me you'll know where to find
+me."
+
+"You stay where you are," ses Mr. Cutts.  "We ain't going to let you out
+of our sight."
+
+"Very well, then, you take me 'ome," ses Bob.  "I'm not going to catch my
+death o' cold sitting 'ere.  I'm not used to being out of a night like
+you are.  I was brought up respectable."
+
+"I dare say," ses Mr. Cutts.  "Take you 'ome, and then 'ave one o' your
+mates come and get the sack while we're away."
+
+Then Bob Pretty lost 'is temper, and the things 'e said about Mr. Cutts
+wasn't fit for Smith to 'ear.  He threw 'imself down at last full length
+on the ground and sulked till the day broke.
+
+Keeper Lewis was there a'most as soon as it was light, with some long
+hay-rakes he'd borrowed, and I should think that pretty near 'arf the
+folks in Clay-bury 'ad turned up to see the fun.  Mrs. Pretty was crying
+and wringing 'er 'ands; but most folks seemed to be rather pleased that
+Bob 'ad been caught at last.
+
+In next to no time 'arf-a-dozen rakes was at work, and the things they
+brought out o' that pond you wouldn't believe.  The edge of it was all
+littered with rusty tin pails and saucepans and such-like, and by-and-by
+Lewis found the things he'd 'ad to go 'ome without a few hours afore, but
+they didn't seem to find that sack, and Bob Pretty, wot was talking to
+'is wife, began to look 'opeful.
+
+But just then the squire came riding up with two friends as was staying
+with 'im, and he offered a reward of five shillings to the man wot found
+it.  Three or four of 'em waded in up to their middle then and raked
+their 'ardest, and at last Henery Walker give a cheer and brought it to
+the side, all heavy with water.
+
+"That's the sack I found, sir," ses Bob, starting up.  "It wasn't on your
+land at all, but on the field next to it.  I'm an honest, 'ardworking
+man, and I've never been in trouble afore.  Ask anybody 'ere and they'll
+tell you the same."
+
+Squire Rockett took no notice of 'im.  "Is that the sack?"  he asks,
+turning to Mr. Cutts.
+
+"That's the one, sir," ses Mr. Cutts.  "I'd swear to it anywhere."
+
+"You'd swear a man's life away," ses Bob.  "'Ow can you swear to it when
+it was dark?"
+
+Mr. Cutts didn't answer 'im.  He went down on 'is knees and cut the
+string that tied up the mouth o' the sack, and then 'e started back as if
+'e'd been shot, and 'is eyes a'most started out of 'is 'ead.
+
+"Wot's the matter?" ses the squire.
+
+Mr. Cutts couldn't speak; he could only stutter and point at the sack
+with 'is finger, and Henery Walker, as was getting curious, lifted up the
+other end of it and out rolled a score of as fine cabbages as you could
+wish to see.
+
+I never see people so astonished afore in all my born days, and as for
+Bob Pretty, 'e stood staring at them cabbages as if 'e couldn't believe
+'is eyesight.
+
+"And that's wot I've been kept 'ere all night for," he ses, at last,
+shaking his 'ead.  "That's wot comes o' trying to do a kindness to
+keepers, and 'elping of 'em in their difficult work.  P'r'aps that ain't
+the sack arter all, Mr. Cutts.  I could ha' sworn they was pheasants in
+the one I found, but I may be mistook, never 'aving 'ad one in my 'ands
+afore.  Or p'r'aps somebody was trying to 'ave a game with you, Mr.
+Cutts, and deceived me instead."
+
+The keepers on'y stared at 'im.
+
+"You ought to be more careful," ses Bob.  "Very likely while you was
+taking all that trouble over me, and Keeper Lewis was catching 'is death
+o' cold, the poachers was up at the plantation taking all they wanted.
+And, besides, it ain't right for Squire Rockett to 'ave to pay Henery
+Walker five shillings for finding a lot of old cabbages.  I shouldn't
+like it myself."
+
+[Illustration: "You ought to be more careful," ses Bob.]
+
+He looked out of the corner of 'is eye at the squire, as was pretending
+not to notice Henery Walker touching 'is cap to him, and then 'e turns to
+'is wife and he ses:
+
+"Come along, old gal," 'e ses.  "I want my breakfast bad, and arter that
+I shall 'ave to lose a honest day's work in bed."
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Persecution of Bob Pretty, by W.W. Jacobs
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