The New Forest Spy | Page 7

a magistrate, and
a staunch supporter of King George. But there, I didn't mean to talk like
that," he cried, as he noted the change that came over his companion's
face. "Here, I say, never mind about politics. You look-- well, very ill.
Hadn't you better go home?"
"Go home! How? Separated from my friends, who perhaps by now are
dead!" The words came with a sob, "Go! How? Hunted from place to
place like a wolf!" He tried to rise, but sank back. "Ill? Yes," he
groaned; "deadly faint. You don't know what I have suffered. I am
starving."
"How long have you been here?" said Waller, whose sympathies were
growing more and more strong in favour of his prisoner.
"I don't know. Days."
"But why were you starving?" said Waller half-indignantly.
"Why should I not be?" said the boy bitterly. "Alone in these wilds."
"Well," cried Waller. "I shouldn't have starved if I had been like you. I
should have liked it, and had rather a jolly time," and he gazed hard at
the delicate-looking lad, whose very aspect, in spite of his disorder,
suggested that he had led a gentle life, possibly mingling with the
followers of the Court.
The gaze was returned--a gaze full of wonderment.
"What would you have done?" said the stranger. "Eaten the bitter
acorns and the leaves?"
"No," cried Waller, laughing, "I should just think not! Why, I should
have done as Bunny Wrigg would--scraped myself out a good hole in
the side of one of the sandpits, half-filled it with dry bracken for my
bed, made a corner for my fire somewhere outside, and then had a good

go in at the rabbits and the fish; and there are plenty of pig-nuts and
truffles, if you know how to hunt for them. There are several places
where you can get mushrooms out in the open part among the furze
where the grass grows short; and then there's that kind that grows on
the oak-trees. You can trap birds, too, or knock over ducks that come
down the stream if you are lucky. I have several times got one with a
bow and arrow. Oh, there are lots of ways to keep from starving out in
the woods."
"Ah," said the lad feebly, "you are a country boy. I come from French
cities, and know nothing of these things."
"Oh!" said Waller thoughtfully. "What have you had to eat this
morning?"
The boy laughed sadly. "I have picked some leaves," he said.
"Picked some leaves!" cried Waller contemptuously. "Why didn't you
hunt for some of the hens' eggs? There are lots about here, half-wild,
that have strayed away from the farms and taken to the woods. Of
course a raw egg is not so good as one nicely cooked, but it would keep
a fellow from looking as bad as you do. Here, I say, I am sorry that I
knocked you about so. I didn't know that you were so bad as this."
"It doesn't matter now," was the reply. "You had better give me up to
the soldiers at once. I suppose they will give me something to eat. My
pride's all gone now, and I only want to get it over and bring it to an
end. It's very contemptible, I know, but it is very horrible, all the
same."
"What is?" said Waller quickly.
"To feel that you are starving to death."
"There, now you are talking nonsense," said Waller warmly. "Why, of
course it is. Who's going to starve to death? Here, I suppose I oughtn't
to help you?"

"No; I am an enemy. Give me up to the soldiers as quickly as you can."
"Bother the soldiers!" cried Waller hotly. "Let them do their work
themselves. I don't know anything about enemies. You are half-starved
and ill, and if you stop till I come back I'll run off and get you
something to eat. I could take you home with me at once, but if I did
the servants would see you, and begin to talk, and then it might get to
the ears of the soldiers, if there are any about. Don't run away till I
come back with them," continued Waller, with a mocking laugh. "You
don't want any more water, do you?"
The lad shook his head.
"Then creep in there under those ferns. Nobody could see you even if
he came by, and Bunny Wrigg is the only one likely to be about here.
Clever as he is, I don't suppose he would spy you out. Why, I shouldn't
have seen you if you hadn't started up as you did. That's right. I shan't
be long."
Waller snatched up the two joints of his rod, and the creel which he had
thrown down, and