ridge, and bring a
good round sum at Stourbridge Fair. I wish I had the driving of them;
and I should not mind the selling, either!"

"Are they the highland cattle which Will Brinsmead bought for him at
Saint Faith's?" asked a voice, so close to the two speakers that they
both started.

"Come out into the moonlight, friend," said Jack, boldly; "I don't
answer questions to a man that keeps out of sight."

The stranger stepped out from beneath the shadow of a row of beech-trees
which grew on the bank close to the path which Jack and his companion
were following. He was a broad-set countryman in appearance, habited in
a well-worn but strong riding-suit, with leather leggings, a horseman's
jackboots, and a broad leathern belt, in which Jack's quick eye caught
sight of a pistol-barrel. He seemed considerably entertained by Jack's
challenge, and repeated his question with great good-humour, in an
unmistakable Yorkshire accent.

"You perhaps know as much as I do about the beasts," answered Jack.
"Some of them are Scotch, and well fed on these rich water-meadows, till
they are nearly as valuable as the Leicestershire breed. I see a few
down there which are real Herefordshire, too. And now may I ask who you
are?"

"Well, a fair answer deserves another in return. I am a Yorkshire
cattle-dealer, at your service, just passing through Nottingham, and I
walked out here to see if there was any thing likely to suit me, in case
I chose to make a bargain to-morrow morning. I must be early on the
road to Derby. I hope you are satisfied, young man. And now let me ask
you what game you are after?"

"To be honest with you, we came out to catch a salmon or two," answered
Jack. "There are some fine ones now and then down the stream a little
way, though it is not often salmon come so far up the river. We shall
have a boat here, which will carry us close up to the weir."

"Ah! I like that sort of thing!" said the Yorkshireman; "I have seen a
good bit of such sport in my time. What now if I were to lend you a
hand? With the leister we would soon have a fine one that way, and if
we had a lantern ready, we might take a few by `sunning' besides."

"Oh, yes! we shall be glad for you to come," answered Smedley, before
Jack could say any thing. "I should like above all things to see fish
sunned."

"Well, then," answered the Yorkshireman, "you and your friend here must
give me your word to forget, if ever you should see me agai