“No; I have heard nothing. I have been with my father at the ruins.”
“I was there at ’bout six o’clock, sir. Couldn’t have thought the old place would have burnt so fast.”
“But you said news, Samson?” cried Fred, eagerly. “Not news of them?”
“No, sir; not news of them,” replied Samson, sadly. “News of our stopping here for the present.”
“No.”
“Well, sir, I hear that’s to be it, unless a stronger party comes and drives us away. Seems to me as we’re like the little ones playing king o’ the castle; and no sooner is one up a-top than another comes and pushes him down. But, Master Fred; had your breakfast, haven’t you?”
“Yes,” said Fred, whose thoughts were at the ruins.
“So have I, sir. Well, look here, sir; I want to see whether the slugs and snails have been at that there food in the wood. What do you say to going to see?”
“We cannot go till night, Samson,” said Fred, sadly.
“Yes, we can, sir. Look here; I’ll cut a couple o’ long willows, and get some worms in the Hall garden, and I dare say I can find a basket. Then let’s you and me go careless like to the far end of the lake, just as if we were going to try for a fish or two, and nobody will notice us then. Once we are there, we can creep up through the bushes to the wilderness, and get that bit o’ food.”