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CHAPTER1.ASHOTONTHEMOOR
BOBHAMLYNwasawakenedbyascratchingonhis
bed-clothes.HesatuptofindJudy,histerrier,
standingonherhindlegsbesidehim.Hegot
upatonce.Judywasawiseoldlady,andnever
disturbedhimwithoutreason.Itwasverydarkinhis
small,low-roofedbedroomandhequicklylitacandle
andthrusthis,feetintoapairofslippers.Judywas
atthedoorandthemomentheopenedit,randownthe
narrowstairs.Itmightbe,hethought,thatshemerely
wantedtogoforarun,but,whenheopenedthefront
doorshewalkedout,whinedsignificantlyandwaited
forhim.Hestoppedonlylongenoughtogetastickand
atorch,thenfollowedher.
“Someoneafterthechickens,eh,oldgirl?”heasked,
butinsteadofgoing,towardsthechickenhouse,Judy
ledthewaytothegardengateand,whenheopenedit,
downtheroughcartroadwhichledtotheriverbridge
inthevalley.
Thenightwascloudyandthreatenedrain,but,there
wasamoonbehindthecloudssoit,wasnotquitedark.
Therewasnowind,itwasquite,warm,andtheonly
soundBobcouldhearwasthesoftmurmurofthe
Straneamongitsboulders.
Hewaspuzzled.Therewasnothingwhateverinthe
littlefarmhouse,wherehelivedalone,whichcould
attractthieves.Allhecouldthinkofwasthatfish
poachersmightbeatworkinhisstretchoftheriver.
Judy,herealised,wasfollowingatrail,soitwas
evidentthatsomeonehadbeennearthehouse.Yetthe
lastthingthatpoacherswoulddowouldbetorisk
wakinghim.HisfewneighboursonDartmoor,whodid
abitofpoaching,knewthathekeptthecleverestdog
onthemoor.
SuddenlyJudyswervedofftheroadand,still
keepinghernoseclosetotheground,begantowork
acrossthenew-take,theroughpasture,totheleft.
Atthefarsideshewentnimblyoverthedry-stonewall
