Could you find your way home? but that is of no
consequence--Smoker will lead you home by the shortest path. I will
stay here, and you can saddle White Billy and come back with him, for
he must carry the venison back. It's more than we can manage--indeed,
as much as we can manage with White Billy to help us. There's more
than twenty stone of venison lying there, I can tell you."
Edward immediately assented, and Jacob, desiring Smoker to go home,
set about flaying and cutting up the animal for its more convenient
transportation. In an hour and a half, Edward, attended by Smoker,
returned with the pony, on whose back the chief portion of the venison
was packed. Jacob took a large piece on his own shoulders, and Edward
carried another, and Smoker, after regaling himself with a portion of
the inside of the animal, came after them. During the walk home, Jacob
initiated Edward into the terms of venery and many other points
connected with deer-stalking, with which we shall not trouble our
readers. As soon as they arrived at the cottage, the venison was hung
up, the pony put in the stable, and then they sat down to dinner with
an excellent appetite after their long morning's walk. Alice and
Humphrey had cooked the dinner themselves, and it was in the pot,
smoking hot, when they returned; and Jacob declared he never ate a
better mess in his life.
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