Mr. Heatherstone looked at the face and appeared much moved. "Cover it
up," said he, turning away; and then sitting down on a chair close to
the table--
"And how was this found?" he said.
"I neither saw this person killed, nor the robber you first saw, but I
heard the report of the firearms at almost the same moment, and I
presume that they fell by each other's hands."
The intendant called his clerk, who had accompanied him, and desired
him to get ready his writing materials, and then said--
"Edward Armitage, we will now take down your deposition as to what has
occurred."
Edward then commenced by stating, "that he was out in the forest and
had lost his way, and was seeking a path home."
"You were out in the forest during the night?
"Yes, sir, I was."
"With your gun?"
"I always carry my gun," replied Edward.
"In pursuit of game?"
"No, sir; I was not. I have never been out in pursuit of game during
night-time in my life."
"What were you then about? you did not go out for nothing?"
"I went out to commune with my own thoughts; I was restless, and I
wandered about without knowing where I went, and that is the reason
why I lost my way."
"And pray what may have excited you?"
"I will tell you: I was over with Oswald Partridge the day before; you
had just arrived from London, and he gave me the news that King
Charles had been proclaimed in Scotland, and that news unsettled me.
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