I'll not take any impudence from a young rascal like you.'

'It's no impudence,' answered Stephen; 'only I know to some black game,
and I wanted to tell you about them.'

'Black game!' he said contemptuously. 'A likely story. There's been none
these half-dozen years.'

'It's four years since,' answered Stephen; 'I remember, because
grandfather and I saw them the day mother died, when little Nan was born.
I couldn't forget them or mistake them after that. They are at the head
of the Black Valley, where the quaking noise begins. I'm sure I'm right,
sir.'

'You are not making game of me?' asked Jones, laughing heartily at his
own wit. 'Well, my lad, if this is true, it will be worth something to
me. Hark ye, I'm sorry about your dog, and you shall choose any one of
mine you like, if you'll promise to keep him out of mischief.'

'I couldn't have another dog in Snip's place,' replied Stephen in a
choked voice; 'at any rate not yet, thank you, sir.'

'Well,' said the gamekeeper, shouldering his gun, and walking off, 'I'll
be your friend, young Fern, when it does not hurt myself.'




CHAPTER IX.