8o WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



CHAPTER IV. 



ALDERS AND REEDS. 



I WAS about to dive down into one of the numerous 

 hollows in some woods which I frequented much, 

 when I was hailed by a stalwart young woodland 

 friend of mine, who was returning from his day's 

 work. 



" You be like them ' come-backs ' (guinea-fowls) 

 of mine on the wander again," said he. " If you 

 ain't nothing better in hand, you an' me ken hev 

 a looter roun', arter I've had my supper. You likes 

 out-o'-the-way places an' old tumble-down houses." 



" It ain't only the place I wants to take ye to 

 see," said he, when he rejoined me; "that's pretty 

 enough, an' ye'll want to make a pictur of it, I 

 know. But there's more than that, a mate of mine 



