north, and every half-hour shifted his course, so as to be
walking in a very different direction from where the cottage stood. In
the meantime it grew gradually dark; and as it became so, every now and
then when Edward passed a large tree he turned round behind it and
looked to see if Corbould was following him. At last, just as it was
dark, he perceived the figure of a man at no great distance from him,
who was following him, running from tree to tree, so as to make his
approach. "Oh, you are there!" thought Edward, "now will I give you a
nice dance, and we will see whose legs are tired soonest. Let me see,
where am I?" Edward looked round, and then perceived that he was close
to the clump of trees where Humphrey had made his pit-fall for the
cattle, and there was a clear spot of about a quarter of a mile between
it and where he now stood. Edward made up his mind, and immediately
walked out to cross the clearing, calling Holdfast to heel. It was now
nearly dark, for there was only the light of the stars; but still there
was sufficient light to see his way. As Edward crossed the cleared
spot, he once looked round and perceived that Corbould was following
him, and nearer than he was before, trusting probably to the increased
darkness to hide his approach. "That will do," thought Edward, "come
along, my fine fellow." And Edward walked on till he came to the
pit-fall; there he stopped and looked round, and soon discovered the
verderer at a hundred yards' distance. Edward held his dog by the
mouth, that he should not growl or bark, and then went on in a direction
so as to bring the pit-fall exactly between Corbould and himself.
Having done so, he proceeded at a more rapid pace; and Corbould
following him, also increased his, till he arrived at the pit-fall,
which he could not perceive, and fell into it headlong; and as he fell
into the pit, at the same time Edward heard the discharge of his gun,
the crash of the small branches laid over it, and a cry on the part of
Corbould. "That will do," thought Edward, "now you may lie there as
long as the gipsy did, and that will cool your courage. Humphrey's
pit-fall is full of adventure. In this case it has done me a service.
Now I may turn and go home as fast as I can. Come, Holdfast, old boy,
we both want our suppers. I can answer for one, for I could eat the
whole of that pasty which Oswald set before me this morning." Edward
walked at a rapid pace, quite delighted