The arrival of a new policeman, PC Will Croft, makes a quick but unhappy impression on Beckindale, especially with Fred Farrar. Amos worries about the new village police officer, who has taken over from Fred Hallam, and how his clock is always right. Croft tells him his clock is slow. He catches Fred poaching in a country lane and asks for his details. Fred says he shot the bird on a common road. PC Croft books him.