mbed out on the
nearer. Then the four men bent to it, and hauled on the net with all
their might. No use: it was stuck as fast as ever.

'Ye want to pull harder, boys,' called out Smiley.

Young Bill exploded into a volley of imprecations addressed to the
watchman.

'Hark at 'im,' growled the navvy--'pull harder; we're to pull harder
while 'e slinks about on the bank. Come an' lend a hand yerself, an'
be quick about it, or I'll sling ye into the river.'

Smiley ran at once, for he stood in great dread of his violent
accomplice, and knew that the threat was a perfectly serious one. For
a few moments there was a busy interchange of remarks and opinions as
the baffled poachers discussed the possibilities of the case, and
decided that a water-logged branch was at the bottom of the trouble.

While they were talking Dick was acting. No sooner did he see the
watchman called off guard than he began to wriggle like an eel across
the turf towards the beech, keeping the trunk of the tree between
himself and the poachers. His keen knife made short work of Chippy's
bonds, gag included, and the Raven was free. The latter slipped round
the trunk, and the two scouts glided quickly back into cover of the
hazels.

'Good old Wolf,' whispered Chippy, drawing a few deep breaths. 'I felt
sure ye'd be somewheer handy. I owe ye a vote o' thanks. It's carried
unanermously.'

'Oh, dry up, Chippy,' whispered his comrade. 'As if you wouldn't have
done the same for me. What luck the rascals got into a fix! That gave
me a chance. But, Chippy, there are keepers over there, watching them.'

'Keepers!' breathed Chippy in amazement. 'Why don't they collar
'em?'--and even as he spoke, the scouts learned why the keepers had
delayed their attack.

'Now, altogether,' cried young Bill at the waterside, and the five
poachers bent for a last tremendous tug which would free their net.
The net was freed, but not exactly in the style they hoped for. There
was a sudden, keen _Cr-r-r-rish!_ of snapping, parting meshes, and the
net, cut clean into two by the scythe blades, came to shore in two
halves, one on either bank.

It gave, at the last, so suddenly that the hauling rogues were taken
completely by surprise. At one moment they were pulling against a
tremendous resistance; at the next there was none, and they went head
over heels, all five of them, the three on the nearer side piled in a
heap.

Upon this heap the two keepers darte