Part 11 (1/2)

All at once the old sailor indulged in a burst of chuckles

”Hear so, Bill?” said Nic

”No,a cart up the road yonder, waren't they?”

”Yes; one of the ive 'eht, my lad,” whispered the man, with another chuckle; ”and it won't be fish, nor it won't be fowl My fingers is a-tingling so that I thought soe ht hand into my left”

”Well, what of that?” said Nic contemptuously; ”it was only pins and needles”

”Nay, Master Nic, it waren't that I've been a sailor in the king's shi+ps and have had it before It was the fighting-stuff running down to the very tips of o”

”Hush!+ don't talk nohispered Nic; ”there may be one or two of the enemy yonder”

”Nay, it's a bit too soon for 'em, sir; but it'll be as well to keep quiet”

The narrow paths of the tangled wilderness at the back of the pool were so well known to all present that their young leader had no difficulty in getting thee on shelves and ledges where the bushes and ferns grew thickly, from whence, when the poachers ell at work, it would be easy to spring down into the water and make the attack For the flood had so far subsided now that the worst hole was not above five feet deep, and the greater part about three, with a fairly even bottoround-down rock smoothed by the pebbles washed over it in flood-tiregated, the new-co naturally to the haunts of their forerunners from time immemorial, so that poacher or honest fisher pretty well knehere he would be most successful

Nic chose a central spot for himself and Solly, some four feet above the level of the black water, and after ranging his ht and left he sat down to wait, with all silent and dark around, save for theof a star or two overhead, for besides this there was not a glint of light Still, the place seemed to stand out before hi between the steep rocks on either side; and he kneithout telling that as soon as the poachers began their work his father would send some of his active allies into the bed of the stream lower down, to advance upward, probably before the whistle was blown

”And then the scoundrels will be in a regular trap before they know it,”

thought Nic, as he strained his ears to catch the sound of the sailors being stationed in their hiding-places; but all was still save the soft hu into the pool

An hour passed very slowly, and Nic's cra sensation known as pins and needles; this he did not attribute to the er to reach his toes and fill hied his position and waited, treet the matter over, fully satisfied as he was that his friends were all in position and ready for the fray

At last!

There was a sharp crack, as if soht Then another crack and a rustling, and an evident disregard of caution

”Co, my lads,” said a low, harsh voice; and then there was a splash, as if a h of it last tier If they do, we're half asas'll stop 'eh”

”Needn't shout and holloa,” said another voice froht unless we're obliged”

”Oh no, of course not!” said the ly

”If we do have to, e hoh at this, and Pete re any retort was concerned, but directly after Nic felt a singular thrill run through hiet there to the mouth and drop the net across and hold it, for the fish will make a rush that way Don't be afraid of the water Shove the bottom line well round the stones, and keep your feet on it A lot got away last ti as reat circular pool, and then the whishi+ng of a net being dropped down and arranged

”Ha, ha!” laughed a s

He's in the net now Can't get through”