t would lead near to the cottage.

He walked in, and after a moment's thought, he said, "My dear children,
those men may come and search the cottage; you must do as I tell you,
and mind that you are very quiet. Humphrey, you and your sisters must
go to bed, and pretend to be very ill. Edward, take off your coat and
put on this old hunting-frock of mine. You must be in the bedroom
attending your sick brother and sisters. Come, Edith dear, you must
play at going to bed, and have your dinner afterwards."

Jacob took the children into the bedroom, and removing the upper dress,
which would have betrayed that they were not the children of poor
people, put them in bed, and covered them up to the chins with the
clothes Edward had put on the old hunting-shirt, which came below his
knees, and stood with a mug of water in his hand by the bedside of the
two girls. Jacob went to the outer room, to remove the platters laid
out for dinner; and he had hardly done so, when he heard the noise of
the troopers, and soon afterwards a knock at the cottage-door.

"Come in," said Jacob.

"Who are you, my friend?" said the leader of the troop, entering the
door.

"A poor forester, sir," replied Jacob, "under great trouble."

"What trouble, my man?"

"I have the children all in bed with the smallpox."

"Nevertheless, we must search your cottage."

"You are welcome," replied Jacob; "only don't frighten the children if
you can help it."

The man, who was now joined by others, commenced his search. Jacob
opened all the doors of the rooms, and they passed through. Little
Edith shrieked when she saw them; but Edward patted her, and told her
not to be frightened. The troopers, however, took no notice of the
children; they searched thoroughly, and then came back to the front
room.

"It's no use remaining here," said one of the troopers. "Shall we be
off? I'm tired and hungry with the ride."

"So am I; and there's something that smells well," said another.
"What's this, my good man," continued he, taking off the lid of the pot.

"My dinner for a week," replied Jacob. "I have no one to cook for me
now, and can't light a fire every day."

"Well, you appear to live well, if you have such a mess as that every
day in the week. I should like to try a spoonful or two."

"And welcome, sir," replied Jacob; "I will cook some more for myself."

The troopers took him at his word; they sat down to the table, and very
soon the whole co