Page:The Children of the New Forest - 1847 - Marryat.djvu/37

 But just before dinner was ready, Edward came in and said, "Here are troopers galloping in the forest!" Jacob went out, and observed that they were coming in a direction that would lead near to the cottage.

He walked in, and, after a moment's thought, he said—"My dear children, those men may come and search the cottage; you must do as I tell you, and mind that you are very quiet. Humphrey, you and your sisters must go to bed, and pretend to be very ill. Edward, take off your coat and put on this old hunting frock of mine. You must be in the bed-room attending your sick brother and sisters. Come, Edith dear, you must play at going to bed, and have your dinner afterwards."

Jacob took the children into the bed-room, and removing the upper dress, which would have betrayed that they were not the children of poor people, put them in bed, and covered them up to the ching with the clothes. Edward had put on the old hunting shirt, which came below his knees, and stood with a mug of water in his hand by the bedside of the two girls. Jacob went to the outer room, to remove the platters laid out for dinner; and be had hardly done so, when be heard the noise of the troopers, and soon afterwards a knock at the cottage door.

"Come in," said Jacob.

"Who are you, my friend?" said the leader of the troop, entering the door. "A poor forester, Sir," replied Jacob, '"under great trouble."

"What trouble, my man?"

"I have the children all in bed with the small-pox."

"Nevertheless, we must search your cottage."

"You are welcome," replied Jacob; "only don't frighten the children if you can help it."

The man, who was now joined by others, commenced his search. Jacob opened all the doors of the rooms, and they passed through. Little Edith shrieked when she saw them; but