it hurt very much, he
wondered? at all events it would soon be over. He had thought for a
moment while skating that perhaps it was a dream; how jolly it would be
if it could only prove a dream, and he could wake up in the morning and
find that the whole business was fancy. What a good job that he had not
told Penryhn, and got him into a row as well. What a nuisance that old
Rabbits was to come by just at the wrong moment; five minutes earlier or
five minutes later it would have been all right. What thing was that he
lighted? What a tremendous flare it made, to be sure. Well, it was no
use bothering; happen what might he had a jolly good skate, and was firm
on the outside edge for ever. Now the thaw might come if it liked, and
Tom, who was a bit of a philosopher, went to sleep.

CHAPTER NINE.

THE POACHERS.

Buller was not the only Weston boy who broke out unlawfully that night.

From Mr Cookson's house as from Dr Jolliffe's an adventurer stole
forth. But Saurin's object was not so innocent as Buller's, neither was
it so unpremeditated. For he nursed felonious designs against Lord
Woodruff's pheasants, and the project had been deliberately planned,
and, as we know, the key which was to open the yard door cunningly
manufactured, a long time beforehand.

Edwards, as a result of talking about the expedition, and his friend's
glowing anticipation of the fun of it, became quite anxious to join in.
But Marriner did not think this advisable when Saurin put the matter to
him. They only had one air-gun, and two were quite enough for a
stealthy excursion of this kind. A third could take no part in the
proceedings, and would only be an extra chance of attracting
observation. As a matter of fact, Marriner would rather have been quite
alone, as his custom was on these predatory occasions, and it was only
his desire to make Saurin an accomplice, and so seal his mouth, which
induced him to depart from his ordinary custom now. And to tell the
truth, when the time actually came, and Edwards saw his friend steal
along the yard, unlock and open the door at the further end, and close
it behind him, he was glad in his heart that he was not going too. Not
because it was wrong: he had got his ideas so twisted that he thought it
an heroic piece of business altogether, and admired Saurin for his
lawless daring. But he felt conscious of not being cast in the heroic
mould himself, and actually shuddered at the thought of g