Page:The Children of the New Forest - 1847 - Marryat.djvu/178

 many disbanded soldiers who had taken up their quarters in the forest, and had committed several depredations upon the houses adjacent to it, always returning to the forest as a rendezvous. Edward listened, and heard one say—

"It is not time yet! No, no: too soon by half an hour or more. The people from Lymington who buy him what he wants, always bring it to him at night, that his retreat may not be discovered. They some times do not leave the cottage till two hours after dark, for they do not leave Lymington to go there till it is dark!"

"Do you know who it is, who supplies him with food?"

"Yes, the people at the Inn in Parliament Street—I forget the sign."

"Oh! I know. Yes, the landlord is a downright Malignant in his heart! We might squeeze him well, if we dared show ourselves in Lymington."

"Yes, but they would squeeze our necks tighter than would be agreeable, I expect," replied the other.

"Are you sure that he has money?"

"Quite sure; for I peeped through the chinks of the window-shutters, and I saw him pay for the things brought to him; it was from a canvass bag, and it was gold that he took out."

"And where did he put the bag, after he had paid them?"

"That I can't tell, for as I knew that they would come out as soon as they were paid, I was obliged to beat a retreat lest I should be seen."

"Well, then, how is it to be managed?"

"We must first tap at the door, and try if we can get in as benighted travellers: if that won't do, and I fear it will not, while you remain begging for admittance at the door, and keep him occupied, I will try the door behind, that leads into the garden; and if not the door, I will try the window. I have examined them both well, and have been outside when he has shut up his