Page:The Children of the New Forest - 1847 - Marryat.djvu/243

 with this addition, I think you will find none to spare before the spring."

"So far from it, that I have been mowing down a great deal more, Edward, and it is almost ready to carry away. Poor Billy has had hard work of it, I assure you, since he came back, with one thing and another."

"Poor fellow, but it won't last long, Humphrey," said Edward, smiling, "the other horses will soon take his place."

"I trust they will," said Humphrey, "at all events by next spring; before that I do not expect that they will."

"By the bye, Humphrey, you recollect what I said to you that the robber I shot told me, just before he died."

"Yes, I do recollect it now," replied Humphrey; "but I had quite forgot all about it till you mentioned it now, although I wrote it down that we might not forget it.'

"Well, I have been thinking all about it, Humphrey. The robber told me that the money was mine, taking me for another person; therefore I do not consider it was given to me, nor do I consider that it was his to give. I hardly know what to do about it, nor to whom the money can be said to belong."

"Well, I think I can answer that question. The property of all malefactors belongs to the King; and therefore this money belongs to the King; and we may retain it for the King, or use it for his service."

"Yes, it would have belonged to the King, had the man been condemned, and hung on the gallows as he deserved; but he was not, and therefore I think that it does not belong to the King."

"Then it belongs to whoever finds it, and who keeps it till it is claimed—which will never be."

"I think I must speak to the Intendant about it," replied Edward, "I should feel more comfortable."

"Then do so," replied Humphrey; "I think you are right to have no concealments from him."