The Children of the New Forest

ined in the cottage, and Jacob never went to Lymington. The frost had broken up, the snow had long disappeared, a

ess; so let us get our guns, and go out this fine morning. The stags are mostly by themselves at this season, for the does are with their young calves. We must

a young one, and not worth following. He explained to Edward the difference in the hoof-marks and other signs by which this knowledge was gained, and they p

rack him to hi

when they arrived at a small thicke

Edward; let me now s

slot or track by which the stag had left the covert, a

reast the wind. You will then have a good shot at him; recollect to fire so as to hit him behind the shoulder: if he is moving quick, fire a little before the shoulders; if slow,

entered it with Smoker. Edward was stationed behind a thorn-bush, which grew a

ng away when Edward fired, and the animal fell. Remembering the advice of Jacob, Edward remained

he looked earnestly at a high brake between some thorn-trees, about a half a mile to the windward. "I think I see s

," replied Edward. "

another stag, depend upon it; but how are we to get near him? We

eeward, and gain the forest again, I think that there are thorns sufficient from the forest t

ht be done. I will try it; it is my turn now, you know. You had bette

ung out, and the gun was discharged. Edward perceived that the stag was not killed, but severely wounded, running toward the covert near which he was hid. "Down, Smoker," said he, as he cocked his gun. The stag came within shot, a

ob, "and Smoker will have him; but

s fast as they could, when, as they ente

Edward; the animal is done

n they found that the stag had fallen on his kn

o him, for the wound from the hor

e beast, and we have done well to-day, but we shall have two journeys to make to get all thi

ball in his thro

t about the cart. If we had one, we could have carried all home at once; but I must go now and cut the throat of the other stag which you killed so cleverly. You will

tted to the size of the pony, who was not tall but very strong, as all the New Forest ponies are. He also procured harness, and then put Billy in the cart to draw him home; but Billy did not admire being put in a cart, and for some time was very restive, and backed and reared, and went every way but the right; but by dint of coaxing and leading, he at last submitted, and went straight on; but then the noise of the cart behind him frightened him, and he ran away. At last, having tired

tell you all the news I collected while I was at Lymington. Captain Burly, who attempted t

o condemned him," rep

there is better news, w

escaped t

good news; a

d talks, but no one knows what is true and what is false; but depend u

ed very grave

ave our rights yet, Jacob," said

ation ended, and

ob to dig the ground, and then to put in the seed. The cabbage-plants of last year were then put out, and the turnips and carrots sown. Before the month was over, the garden and potato-field were cropped, and Humphrey took upon himself to weed and keep it clean. Little Edith had also employm

umphrey, who took the command altoge

Alice, "I have plenty

which I see in the f

ey to

the forest, and have remained here ever since. They are rather wild and savage, and you must be careful how you go too near them, as

d get one, if I ca

boy," replied Jacob, "and as I

uld give us milk, and then we should have more manure

will interfere; but I think you will not find it

mphrey, "any how. Alice, if we only

, but was full of invention. He had built up a hen-house with fir-poles, and made the nests for the hens to lay and hatch in, and they now had between forty and fifty chickens running about. He had also divided the pigsty, so that the sow might be kept apart from the other pigs; and they expected very soon to have a litter of young pigs. He had transplanted the wild strawberries from the forest, and had, by manure, made them large and good; and he had also a fine crop of onions in the garden, from seed which Jacob had bought at Lymington; now Humphrey was very busy cutting down some poles in the forest to make

he cow to come

mes from," replied he

ow. At last it became quite a joke between him and Edward, who, when he brought home more venison than would keep in the hot weather, told Humphrey that the remainder was for the cow. Still Humphrey would not give up the point, and every morning and evening he would be certain to be absent an hour or two, and it was found out he was watching the herd of wild cattle who were feeding: someti

he'll come back and b

se words when in came Hump

put Billy in the cart, and take Smoker and a rope

at's the

ut I must put Billy in the cart,

eared, and Jaco

can

d Edward. "However, when he comes with the pony, we shall

up the pony and car

tell us now what we are

not help calving very soon indeed, and as I was watching, I saw that she was uneasy, and that she at last left the herd and went into a little copse of wood. I remained three hours to see if she came out again, and she did not. It was dark when I came home, as you know

Jacob; "but now I do not un

replied

think we can. I have got Smoker to worry the heifer and keep her employed, while we put the calf in the cart; a rope that we may

," replied Jacob, "and I give you credit for the sche

r," replied Humphrey. "

were feeding at a considerable distance f

oker seize the heifer, if necessary; at all events he will keep her at bay-that is, if she is here. First, let us w

yet on its legs. As soon as the animal perceived Jacob and Edward, she shook her head, and was about to run at them; but Jacob told Smoker to seize her, and the dog flew at her immediately. The

n the heifer and the calf, "lift up the calf between you and

e calf was gone; when she did, Jacob called Smoker to him, so as to bring him between the heifer and where the boys were going out of the thicket. At last the hei

id Jacob, who now went

y. Is the cal

replied Edward, "and w

too, and let us drive off. She'll follow us, dep

owed by the heifer, lowing most anxiously. Her lowing was res

ard the lowing of the heifer answered by some of

g at the dog, at another putting her head almost into the hind part of the cart

until I tell you. We must be governed by circumstances. It won't do to lose the pony,

, not the whole herd, but a single bull, who was coming up at a fast trot, with

favorite. Well, we can manage him. Smoker, come in. Come in, sir, dire

ull advanced till he was

e first-aim for his shou

to attack, unless it was the dog. As soon as the bull was within sixty yards, Edwa

that fellow by-and-by. At present we had better get home, as others may come.

ut no more of the wild herd made their appea

b. "Come, Humphrey, you have had all the

cart into the yard, and shut the g

on us, there's Alice and Edith running out!-the heifer may kill them. Go

he paling of the yard, so as to enable Edward to get on the other side of it, ready to open the gate. Smoker was set at the heifer, and, as be

mphrey, w

calf, which she will be as soon as you let her in. I shall pass the end of the rope outside for you to haul up when I am ready, and then we shall have her fast, till we can secure her properly. When I call ou

an in immediately, and, hearing her calf bleat, went into the cow-house, the door of which was sh

om the inside; "now make the rop

o the side of the cow-house by the rope which w

's very clever; but n

, and then if she does run at us, she won'

hich he fastened securely round her horns, and then made the other end fast to the side

on shall tame her. At present let us leave her with the calf. She has a yard of rope, and that is enough fo

ut, shutting the

certain; and I assure you, that when you were making so much hay, and gathering so much litter, and building a cow-house, I had no more idea

have, brother. But dinner must be ready, if Alice has done her duty. Wh

and I can sell all I can carry in the cart at