Part 18 (1/2)
”The fact is, my dear Humphrey, we can do no otherwise; he is separated from his friends, and does not know where to go. It would be inhuman, as we have been the cause of his misfortune, to turn him away; but although I feel this, I do not feel much security as to his good behavior and being very useful. I have always been told that these gipsies were vagrants, who lived by stealing all they could lay their hands upon; and, if he has been brought up in that way, I fear that he will not easily be reformed. However, we can but try, and hope for the best.”
”What you say is very just, Edward; at the same time there is an honest look about this lad, although he is a gipsy, that makes me put a sort of confidence in him. Admitting that he has been taught to do wrong, do you not think that when told the contrary he may be persuaded to do right?”
”It is not impossible, certainly,” replied Edward; ”but, Humphrey, be on the safe side, and do not trust him too far until you know more of him.”
”That I most certainly will not,” replied Humphrey. ”When do you purpose going over to the keepers cottage, Edward?”
”In a day or two; but I am not exactly in a humor now to be very civil to the Roundheads, although the one I have promised to visit is a lady, and a very amiable, pretty little girl in the bargain.”
”Why, Edward, what has made you feel more opposed to them than usual?”
”In the first place, Humphrey, the murder of the king-for it was murder and nothing better-I can not get that out of my head; and yesterday I obtained what I consider as almost a gift from Heaven, and if it is so it was not given but with the intention that I should make use of it.”
”And what was that, Edward?”
”Our gallant father's sword, which he drew so n.o.bly and so well in defense of his sovereign, Humphrey, and which I trust his son may one day wield with equal distinction, and, it may be, better fortune. Come in with me, and I will show it to you.”
Edward and Humphrey went into the bedroom, and Edward brought out the sword, which he had placed by his side on the bed.
”See, Humphrey, this was our father's sword; and,” continued Edward, kissing the weapon, ”I trust I may be permitted to draw it to revenge his death, and the death of one whose life ever should have been sacred.”
”I trust that you will, my dear brother,” replied Humphrey; ”you will have a strong arm and a good cause. Heaven grant that both may prosper! But tell me how you came by it.”
Edward then related all that had pa.s.sed during his visit with Oswald to Lymington, not forgetting to tell him of Benjamin's appearance, and the arrangements he had made relative to the sale of the venison.
As soon as dinner was over, Edward and Humphrey took down their guns, having agreed that they would go and hunt the wild cattle.
”Humphrey, have you any idea where the herd of cattle are feeding at this time?”
”I know where they were feeding yesterday and the day before, and I do not think that they will have changed their ground, for the gra.s.s is yet very young and only grown on the southern aspects. Depend upon it we shall fall in with them not four miles from where we now are, if not nearer.”
”We must stalk them as we do the deer, must we not? They won't allow us to approach within shot, Humphrey, will they?” said Edward.
”We have to take our chance, Edward; they will allow us to advance within shot, but the bulls will then advance upon us, while the herd increase their distance. On the other hand, if we stalk them, we may kill one, and then the report of the gun will frighten the others away. In the first instance there is a risk; in the second there is none, but there is more fatigue and trouble. Choose as you please; I will act as you decide.”
”Well, Humphrey, since you give me the choice, I think that this time I shall take the bull by the horns, as the saying is; that is, if there are any trees near us, for if the herd are in an open place I would not run such a risk; but if we can fire upon them and fall back upon a tree in case of a bull charging, I will take them openly.”
”With all my heart, Edward; I think it will be very hard if, with our two guns and Smoker to back us, we do not manage to be masters of the field. However, we must survey well before we make our approach; and if we can get within shot without alarming or irritating them, we, of course, will do so.”
”The bulls are very savage at this spring time,” observed Edward.
”They are so at all times, as far as I can see of them,” replied Humphrey; ”but we are near to them now, I should think-yes, there is the herd.”
”There they are, sure enough,” replied Edward; ”now we have not to do with deer, and need not to be so very cautious; but still the animals are wary, and keep a sharp look-out. We must approach them quietly, by slipping from tree to tree. Smoker, to heel!-down--quiet, Smoker!-good dog!”
Edward and Humphrey stopped to load their guns, and then approached the herd in manner which had been proposed, and were very soon within two hundred yards of the cattle, behind a large oak, when they stopped to reconnoiter. The herd contained about seventy head of cattle, of various sizes and ages. They were feeding in all directions, scattered, as the young gra.s.s was very short; but although the herd was spread over many acres of land, Edward pointed out to Humphrey that all the full-grown large bulls were on the outside, as if ready to defend the others in case of attack.
”Humphrey,” said Edward, ”one thing is clear-as the herd is placed at present, we must have a bull or nothing. It is impossible to get within shot of the others without pa.s.sing a bull, and depend upon it, our pa.s.sage will be disputed; and moreover the herd will take to flight, and we shall get nothing at all.”
”Well,” replied Humphrey, ”beef is beef; and, as they say, beggars must not be choosers, so let it be a bull if it must be so.”