. Soon the young man
discovered that the little boy, like many other mischievous boys, was of
an exceedingly inquiring disposition. Among other things, he not only
began an intelligent inquiry about the locks of a rifle, but a practical
inquiry with his fingers, which called for remonstrance.

"Do you know, Junkie, that this is the very spot where your Cousin Milly
fell?" said Barret, by way of directing the urchin's thoughts into a
safer channel.

"Is it? Oh, dear, _what_ a thump she must have come down!"

"Yes, indeed, a dreadful thump--poor thing. She was trying to get
flowers at the time. Do you know that she is exceedingly fond of
flowers?"

"Oh, don't I? She's got books full of them--all pasted in with names
printed under them. I often wonder what she sees in flowers to be so
fond of them. I don't care a button for them myself, unless they smell
nice. But I often scramble after them for her."

"There is a good deal to like in flowers besides the smell," said
Barret, assuming an instructive tone, which Junkie resented on the spot.

"Oh, yes, I don't want to know; you needn't try to teach me," he said,
firmly.

"Of course not. I wouldn't think of teaching you, my boy. You know I'm
not a schoolmaster. I'm not clever enough for that, and when I was your
age, I hated to be taught. But I could _show_ you some things about
flowers and plants that would astonish you. Only it would not be safe
to do it just now, for the deer might come up and--"

"No they won't," interrupted the boy; "it's a monstrous big wood they've
got to pass through before they can come here, so we have time to look
at some of the 'stonishin' things."

"Well, then, come. We will just go a little way up the cliff."

Leading Junkie away among the masses of fallen rock, which strewed that
ledge of the cliff, the wily youth began to examine plants and flowers
minutely, and to gradually arouse in the boy's mind an interest in such
parts of botanical science as he was capable of understanding.

Meanwhile the small army of beaters had extended themselves across the
distant end of the forest, which, being some miles off, and on the other
side of a great shoulder of the mountain, was not only out of sight, but
out of hearing of the stalkers who watched the passes of the Eagle
Cliff.

All the beaters, or drivers, were well acquainted with the work they had
to do, with the exception of Robin Tips, to whom, of course, it was
quite ne