at the issue of the adventure.
As he arrived near to the cottage he found Humphrey outside, with Pablo,
on the look-out for him. He soon joined them, and soon after embraced
Alice and Edith, who had been anxiously waiting for his return, and who
had wondered at his being out so late. "Give me my supper, my dear
girls," said Edward; "and then you shall know all about it."

As soon as Edward had satisfied his craving appetite--for he had not, as
my readers must recollect, eaten anything since his departure early in
the morning from the house of Oswald Partridge--he entered into a
narrative of the events of the day. They all listened with great
interest; and when Edward had finished, Pablo, the gipsy boy, jumped up,
and said:

"Now he is in the pit, to-morrow morning I take gun and shoot him."

"No, no, Pablo, you must not do that," replied Edward, laughing.

"Pablo," said little Edith, "go and sit down; you must not shoot
people."

"He shoot master then," said Pablo; "he very bad man."

"But if you shoot him, you will be a bad boy, Pablo," replied Edith, who
appeared to have assumed an authority over him. Pablo did not appear to
understand this, but he obeyed the order of his little mistress, and
resumed his seat at the chimney-corner.

"But, Edward," said Humphrey, "what do you propose to do?"

"I hardly know; my idea was to let him remain there for a day or two,
and then send to Oswald to let him know where the fellow was."

"The only objection to that is," replied Humphrey, "that you say his gun
went off as he fell into the pit; it may be probable that he is wounded,
and if so, he might die if he is left there."

"You are right, Humphrey, that is possible; and I would not have the
life of a fellow-creature on my conscience."

"I think it would be advisable, Edward, that I should set off early
to-morrow on the pony, and see Oswald, tell him all that has occurred,
and show him where the pit-fall is."

"I believe that would be the best plan, Humphrey."

"Yes," said Alice, "it would be dreadful that a man should die in so
wicked a state; let him be taken out, and perhaps he will repent."

"Won't God punish him, brother?" said Edith.

"Yes, my dear, sooner or later, the vengeance of Heaven overtakes the
wicked. But I am very tired after so long a walk; let us go to prayers,
and then to bed."

The danger that Edward had incurred that day was felt strongly by the
whole party; and, with the exception o