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diff --git a/12209-0.txt b/12209-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ce764f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/12209-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,533 @@ +*** 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 *** |