here and
risk being shot as a deer-stealer, or put in prison. The farm is
sufficient for us all; and when I have taken in more ground it will be
more than sufficient, even if I do not kill the wild cattle. I am fit
for the farm, but Edward is not. He is thrown away, living in this
obscurity, and he feels it. He will always be in hot water some way or
another, that is certain. What a narrow escape he has had with that
scoundrel, and yet how little he cares for it! He was intended for a
soldier, that is evident; and if ever he is one, he will be in his
element, and distinguish himself, if it pleases God to spare his life.
I'll persuade him to stay at home a little while to help me to enclose
the other piece of ground; and after that is done, I'll dig a saw-pit,
and see if I can coax Pablo to saw with me. I must go to Lymington and
buy a saw. If I once could get the trees sawed up into planks, what a
quantity of things I could make, and how I could improve the place."

Thus thought Humphrey as he went along; he was all for the farm and
improvements, and was always calculating when he should have another
calf or a fresh litter of pigs. His first idea was, that he would make
Pablo work hard; but the advice he had received from Oswald was not
forgotten; and he now was thinking how he should coax Pablo into
standing below in the saw-pit, which was not only hard work, but
disagreeable, from the sawdust falling into the eyes. Humphrey's
cogitations were interrupted by a halloo, and turning round in the
direction of the voice, he perceived Edward, and turned the cart to join
him.

"You're just come in time, Humphrey; I have some provision for Alice's
larder. I took my gun and came out on the path which I knew you would
return on, and I have killed a young buck. He is good meat, and we are
scarce of provisions."

Humphrey helped Edward to put the venison in the cart, and they returned
to the cottage, which was not more than three miles off. Humphrey told
Edward the result of his journey, and then proposed that Edward should
stop at home for a few days and help him with the new enclosure. To
this Edward cheerfully consented; and as soon as they arrived at the
cottage, and Humphrey had had his breakfast, they took their axes and
went out to fell at a cluster of small spruce-firs about a mile off.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

"Now, Humphrey, what do you propose to do?"

"This," replied Humphrey: "I have marked out th