He
found that it was surrounded by a thicket of trees and underwood, so
close and thick that there appeared to him no outlet in any direction.
"What a place for concealment!" thought Edward, "but still these
prowling thieves discovered it. Why, troops of horse might scour the
forest for months, and never discover such a hiding-place." Edward
walked round by the side of the thicket, to find out the track by
which the robbers had entered when he followed them, and at last
succeeded in doing so. He followed the path through the thicket until
he was clear of it, and again in the forest; but the scenery outside
was unknown to him, and he had not an idea as to what part of the
forest it was in. "I must question the boy," thought Edward. "I will
go back and wake him up, for it is time that I was moving." As he was
again turning into the thicket, he heard a dog giving tongue, as if on
a scent. It came nearer and nearer to him, and Edward remained to see
what it might be. In a moment more, he perceived his own dog, Smoker,
come bounding out of a neighboring copse, followed by Humphrey and
Pablo. Edward hallooed. Smoker sprung toward him, leaping up, and
loading him with caresses, and in another moment he was in Humphrey's
arms.
"Oh, Edward, let me first thank God!" said Humphrey, as the tears
started and rolled down his cheeks.
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