The nights were dark and long, and
their oil for their lamp was getting low. Humphrey was anxious to go
to Lymington, as they required many things but it was impossible to go
any where except on foot, and walking was, from the depth of the snow,
a most fatiguing exercise. There was one thing, however, that Humphrey
had not forgotten, which was, that he had told Edward that he would
try and capture some of the forest ponies; and during the whole of the
time since the heavy fall of snow had taken place he had been making
his arrangements. The depth of the snow prevented the animals from
obtaining any grass, and they were almost starved, as they could find
nothing to subsist upon except the twigs and branches of trees which
they could reach. Humphrey went out with Pablo, and found the herd,
which was about five miles from the cottage, and near to Clara's
cottage. He and Pablo brought with them as much hay as they could
carry, and strewed it about, so as to draw the ponies nearer to them,
and then Humphrey looked for a place which would answer his purpose.
About three miles from the cottage, he found what he thought would
suit him; there was a sort of avenue between the two thickets, about a
hundred yards wide; and the wind blowing through this avenue, during
the snow-storm, had drifted the snow at one end of it, and right
across it raised a large mound several feet high.
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