ugh there was the trace of the last fire. Being deep down
in the cutting-like hollow, Vane could not see over the bank, where a
donkey was grazing amongst the furze, while, completely hidden in a
hollow, there was one of those sleeping tents, formed by planting two
rows of willow sticks a few feet apart and then bending over the tops,
tying them together, and spreading a tilt over all.

This was invisible to the boy and so were the heads of the two stout
gipsy lads, who peered down at him from a little farther on, and then
drew softly away to shelter themselves among the bushes and ferns till
they were beyond hearing. When, stooping low, they ran off towards the
wood, but in a stealthy furtive manner as if they were trying to stalk
some wild animal and cut it off farther on, where the place was most
solitary and wild.

In happy ignorance of the interest taken in his proceedings, Vane
trudged along till it seemed to him that it was time to climb up out of
the lane by the steep sand bank, and this he did, but paused half-way
without a scientific or inventive idea in his head, ready to prove
himself as boyish as anyone of his years, for he had come upon a
magnificent patch of brambles sending up in the hot autumn sunshine cone
after cone of the blackest of blackberries such as made him drive his
toes into the loose sand to get a better foothold, and long for a
suitable basket, the one he carried being a mere leather bag.

"Aunt would like a lot of these," he thought, and resisting the
temptation to have a feast he left them on the chance of finding them
next day when he could come provided with a basket. For blackberries
found as much favour with Aunt Hannah as the doctor's choicest plums or
apples.

A little higher, though, Vane paused again to stain his fingers and lips
with the luscious fruit, which, thanks to the American example, people
have just found to be worthy of cultivation in their gardens.

"'Licious," said Vane, with a smack of the lips, and then, mounting to
the top of the bank he stood for a few moments gazing at the glorious
prospect, all beautiful cultivation on his right, all wild grass, fern,
and forest on his left.

This last took most of his attention, as he mapped out his course by the
nearest way to the great clump of beeches which towered above the oaks,
and then at once strode onward, finding an easy way where a stranger
would soon have found himself stuck fast, hedged in by thorns.

"I