dge.
He accosted him, stating the reason for his coming over to him. "I did
not know that Jacob had a grandson; indeed, I never knew that he had a
son. Have you been living with him long?"

"More than a year," replied Edward; "before that I was in the household
at Arnwood."

"Then you are of the king's side, I presume?" replied Oswald.

"To death," replied Edward, "when the time comes."

"And I am also; that you may suppose, for never would I give a hound to
any one that was not. But we had better go to the kennels; dogs may
hear, but they can't repeat."

"I little thought to have met any one but you here when I came," said
Edward; "and I will now tell you all that passed between me and the new
Intendant." Edward then related the conversation.

"You have been bold," said Oswald--"but perhaps it is all the better--I
am to retain my situation, and so are two others: but there are many new
hands coming in as rangers. I know nothing of them but that they are
little fitted for their places; and rail against the king all day long,
which I suppose is their chief merit in the eyes of those who appoint
them. However, one thing is certain, that if those fellows cannot stalk
a deer themselves, they will do all they can to prevent others; so you
must be on the alert, for the punishment is severe."

"I fear them not; the only difficulty is, that we shall not be able to
find a sale for the venison now," replied Edward.

"Oh, never fear that; I will give you the names of those who will take
all your venison off your hands without any risk on your part, except in
the killing of it. They will meet you in the park, lay down ready
money, and take it away. I don't know, but I have an idea that this new
Intendant, or what you may call him, is not so severe as he pretends to
be. Indeed, his permitting you to say what he did, and his own words
relative to the colonel, convince me that I am right in the opinion that
I formed."

"Do you know who he is?"

"Not much about him, but he is a great friend of General Cromwell's, and
they say has done good service to the Parliamentary cause; but we shall
meet again, for the forest is free, at all events."

"If you come here," continued Oswald, "do not carry your gun, and see
that you are not watched home. There are the dogs for your grandfather.
Why, how old must you be, for Jacob is not more than sixty, or
thereabout?"

"I am fifteen past, nevertheless."

"I should have put