Page:The Children of the New Forest - 1847 - Marryat.djvu/198

 "Edward Armitage, we will now take down your deposition as to what has occurred."

When Edward then commenced by stating, "that he was out in the forest and had lost his way, and was seeking his way home."

"You were out in the forest during the night?"

"Yes, Sir, I was."

"With your gun?"

"I always carry my gun," replied Edward.

"In pursuit of game?"

"No, Sir; I was not. I have never been out in pursuit of game during night time in my life."

"What were you then about? you did not go out for nothing?"

"I went out to commune with my own thoughts: I was restless, and I wandered about without knowing where I went, and that is the reason why I lost my way."

"And pray what may have excited you?"

"I will tell you: I was over with Oswald Partridge the day before; you had just arrived from London, and he gave me the news that King Charles had been proclaimed in Scotland, and that news unsettled me."

"Well, proceed."

Edward met with no more interruption in his narrative. He stated briefly all that had taken place, from the time he fell in with the robbers till the winding up of the catastrophe.

The clerk took down all that Edward had stated, and then read it over to him to ascertain if he had written it down correctly, and then inquired of Edward "if he could read and write?"

"I should hope so," replied Edward, taking the pen and signing his name.

The clerk stared, and then said—"People in your condition do not often know how to read and write, Mr. Forester, and therefore you need not be offended at the question."