n
twenty stone of venison lying there, I can tell you."

Edward immediately assented, and Jacob desiring Smoker to go home, set
about flaying and cutting up the animal for its more convenient
transportation. In an hour and a half Edward, attended by Smoker,
returned with the pony, on whose back the chief portion of the venison
was packed. Jacob took a large piece on his own shoulders, and Edward
carried another, and Smoker, after regaling himself with a portion of
the inside of the animal, came after them. During the walk home Jacob
initiated Edward into the terms of venery and many other points
connected with deer-stalking, with which we shall not trouble our
readers. As soon as they arrived at the cottage the venison was hung
up, the pony put in the stable, and then they sat down to dinner with an
excellent appetite after their long morning's walk. Alice and Humphrey
had cooked the dinner themselves, and it was in the pot, smoking hot,
when they returned; and Jacob declared he never ate a better mess in his
life. Alice was not a little proud of this, and of the praises she
received from Edward and the old forester. The next day Jacob stated
his intention of going to Lymington to dispose of a large portion of the
venison, and bring back a sack of oatmeal for their cakes. Edward asked
to accompany him, but Jacob replied:

"Edward, you must not think of showing yourself at Lymington, or
anywhere else, for a long while, until you are grown out of memory. It
would be folly, and you would risk your sisters' and brother's lives,
perhaps, as well as your own. Never mention it again: the time will
come when it will be necessary, perhaps; if so, it cannot be helped. At
present you would be known immediately. No, Edward, I tell you what I
do mean to do: I have a little money left, and I intend to buy you a
gun, that you may learn to stalk deer yourself without me: for
recollect, if any accident should happen to me, who is there but you to
provide for your brother and sisters? At Lymington I am known to many;
but out of all who know me, there is not one who knows where my cottage
is; they know that I live in the New Forest, and that I supply them
venison, and purchase other articles in return. That is all that they
know; and I may therefore go without fear. I shall sell the venison
to-morrow, and bring you back a good gun; and Humphrey shall have the
carpenters' tools which he wishes for--for I think, by what he d