the wood, he left him to return
home with the cart, while he remained to wait the arrival of Humphrey,
and whoever might come with him from the Intendant's. About ten
o'clock, as he was watching outside of the wood, he perceived several
people approaching him, and soon made out that Humphrey, the Intendant,
and Oswald were among the number. When they came up to him Edward
saluted the Intendant in a respectful manner, shook hands with Oswald,
and then led the way by the narrow path through the wood to the cottage.
The Intendant was on horseback, but all the rest were on foot.

The Intendant left his horse to the care of one of the verderers, and
went through the wood on foot with the of the party, preceded by Edward.
He appeared to be very grave and thoughtful, and Edward thought that
there was a coolness in his manner towards himself,--for it must be
recollected that Mr Heatherstone had not seen Edward since he had
rendered him such service in saving the life of his daughter. The
consequence was, that Edward felt somewhat indignant, but he did not
express his feelings, by his looks even, but conveyed the party in
silence to the cottage. On their arrival, Edward pointed to the body of
the robber, which had been covered with fern, and the verderers exposed
it.

"By whose hand did that man fall?" said the Intendant.

"By the hand of the party who lived in the cottage."

Edward then led the way round to the back of the cottage where the other
robber lay--

"And this man was slain by my hand," replied Edward.

"We have one more body to see," continued Edward, leading the way into
the cottage and uncovering the corpse of Clara's father.

Mr Heatherstone looked at the face and appeared much moved--"Cover it
up," said he, turning away; and then sitting down on a chair close to
the table--

"And how was this found?" he said.

"I neither saw this person killed nor the robber you first saw, but I
heard the report of the firearms at almost the same moment, and I
presume that they fell by each other's hands."

The Intendant called his clerk, who had accompanied him, and desired him
to get ready his writing materials, and then said--

"Edward Armitage, we will now take down your deposition as to what has
occurred."

Edward then commenced by stating "that he was out in the forest and had
lost his way, and was seeking his way home--"

"You were out in the forest during the night?"

"Yes, sir, I was."

"With you