‘It bean’t my van,’ interrupts the defendant; ‘it’s my brother’s.’

‘You’ll have an opportunity of speaking presently,’ says the Clerk.  ’Go on’ (to the witness).

’After the van went down the lane, it stopped by the highway-road, and the horse was taken out.  The women left the van with baskets, and went towards the village.’

’Yes, yes; come to the point.  Did you hide yourself by order of the head keeper?’

’I did—­in the nutwood hedge by Three Corner Piece; after a bit I saw the defendant.’

‘Had you any reason for watching there?’

‘There was a wire and a rabbit in it.’

‘Well, what happened?’

’I waited a long time, and presently the defendant got over the gate.  He was very particular not to step on the soft mud by the gate—­he kind of leaped over it, not to leave the mark of his boots.  He had a lurcher with him, and I was afraid the dog would scent me in the hedge.’

‘You rascal!’ (from the defendant’s wife).

’But he didn’t, and, after looking carefully round, the defendant picked up the rabbit, and put it and the wire in his pocket.’

‘What did you do then?’

’I got out of the hedge and came towards him.  Directly he saw me he ran across the field; I whistled as loud as I could, and he’ (jerking a thumb back towards the head keeper) ’came out of the firs into the lane and stopped him.  We found the wire and the rabbit in his pocket, and two more wires.  I produce the wires.’

This was the sum of the evidence; the head keeper simply confirmed the latter part of it.  Oby replied that it was all false from beginning to end.  He had not got corduroy trousers on that day, as stated.  He was not there at all:  he was in the village, and he could call witnesses to prove it.  The Clerk reminded the audience that there was such a thing as imprisonment for perjury.

Then the defendant turned savagely on the first witness, and admitted the truth of his statement by asking what he said when collared in the lane.  ’You said you had had a good lot lately, and didn’t care if you was nailed this time.’

‘Oh, what awful lies!’ cried the wife.  ’It’s a wonder you don’t fall dead!’

‘You were not there,’ the Clerk remarked quietly.  ’Now, Oby, what is your defence?  Have you got any witnesses?’

’No; I ain’t got no witnesses.  All as I did, I know I walked up the hedge to look for mushrooms.  I saw one of them things’—­meaning the wires on the table—­’and I just stooped down to see what it was, ’cos I didn’t know.  I never seed one afore; and I was just going to pick it up and look at it’ (the magistrates glance at each other, and cannot suppress a smile at this profound innocence), ’when this fellow jumped out and frightened me.  I never seed no rabbit.’

‘Why, you put the rabbit in your pocket,’ interrupts the first witness.

‘Never mind,’ said the Clerk to the witness; ‘let him go on.’