In a few moments they were off again, and soon arrived at the pitfall,
where they found the lad, still lying where Humphrey had left him.
They soaked the cake in the milk, and as soon as it was soft gave him
some; after a time, he swallowed pretty freely, and was so much
recovered as to be able to sit up. They then lifted him into the cart,
and drove gently home to their cottage.
"What do you think he is, Edward?" said Humphrey.
"Some poor beggar lad, who has been crossing the forest."
"No, not exactly: he appears to me to be one of the Zingaros or
Gipsies, as they call them: he is very dark, and has black eyes and
white teeth, just like those I saw once near Arnwood, when I was out
with Jacob. Jacob said that no one knew where they came from, but that
they were all over the country, and that they were great thieves, and
told fortunes, and played all manner of tricks."
"Perhaps it may be so; I do not think that he can speak English."
"I am most thankful to Heaven that I chanced this morning to visit the
pitfall. Only suppose that I had found the poor boy starved and dead!
I should have been very unhappy, and never should have had any
pleasure in looking at the cows, as they would always have reminded me
of such a melancholy accident.
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