Nor can it be said that the white bread, the butter, the large mealy
potatoes, and other vegetables, together with the juicy haunch before
the fire were indifferent to his stomach after his long ride.
'I'll get the grog,' growled Murfrey; and turning he disappeared,
seeming to sink directly into the earth. In a few seconds he returned
with a small keg which he placed beside the table.
The rays of the fire enabled our hero to get an indistinct view
around; and he observed that they were surrounded by dense tangled
forest, with the face of the rock forming an immediate screen from
outside intrusion.
'You wonder, I presume, youngster,' the chief observed, 'why our
good company run the risk of building a fire at night in this wood.
Well, such an indiscretion we are not guilty of when the moon is out;
but to-night no foot save a practised one could make its way through
the underwood.'
'But might they not carry lanterns?'
'I grant you; but a light is an object that we as well as they can
see. Besides, coming here in the dark is about the last thing in this
wide world that the guardians of order would think of doing.
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