CHAP. iv. RETURNS HOME. 71 



The boy began to feel very weary and lonesome, and 

 wished again to be at home. He had taken no 

 thought until now, of the results of his leaving so 

 suddenly. He thought of what his father and mother 

 might think of his disappearance. He wondered 

 whether he might now get away to sea. 



But how was he to get home ? He had now only 

 a poor halfpenny left. However, he had still a gully ; 

 perhaps he might be able to sell that. After consider- 

 ing the matter, he resolved to set out for Aberdeen, 

 rather than be a burden to the people at the Kettle. 

 He told his uncle that he would leave next day. The 

 uncle said nothing. The boy was up early next 

 morning, got his breakfast, and also a big piece of 

 bread, which he put in his bundle. His uncle ac- 

 companied him a little way along the road, and at 

 parting gave him eighteenpence. Edward was over- 

 joyed. He would now be able to get home with 

 money in his pocket. 



As he approached Newport he came up to three 

 men standing on the road. Two of them were gentle- 

 men, and the third seemed to be a gamekeeper. He 

 was showing them something which he had shot in 

 the adjoining wood. Edward went forward, and saw 

 that it was a bird with blue wings and a large varie- 

 gated head. "What do you want?" said the game- 

 keeper to Edward. " To have a sight of the bird, if 

 you please." " There, then," said the gamekeeper, and 

 swung the bird in his face, nearly blinding liim. 



