'It's lonesome enough to make a bull-dog afeared,' whispered Davies, in
a frightened tone. But before long they were out of the wood; and in the
glimmer of light that lasts all night through during the summer, Stephen
saw Black Thompson unwind a net, which had been wrapped round his body
under his collier's jacket. More than half the covey of partridges were
bagged; and they had such capital luck, as the men called it, that
Stephen soon entered into the daring spirit of the adventure. It sent
a thrill of excitement through him, in which poor Snip was for the time
forgotten; and when about midnight Black Thompson and Davies said
'Good-night' to him at his cottage door, calling him a brave fellow, and
giving him a fine young leveret, with the promise that he should have his
share of whatever money they received for their spoil, he entered his
dark home, where every one was slumbering peacefully, and, without a
thought of sorrow or repentance, was quickly asleep himself.
CHAPTER VIII.
STEPHEN AND THE GAMEKEEPER.
Martha's exclamation of surprise and delight at seeing the leveret was
the first sound that Stephen heard in the morning; but he preserved a
sullen silence as to his absence the previous night, and Martha was too
shrewd to press him with questions.
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