‘Get the embers together again,’ ordered Martin. ‘Under the Scottish fir are lots of cones full of resin; pile them on the fire, and make a big blaze. Let Jasper see it. I will show him that I am not going to be beaten by his insolence.’ ‘He may have been rough, but he was right,’ said Watt. ‘Oh! you also turn against me! A viper I have cherished in my bosom!’ The boy sighed; he dare no longer refuse, and he sorrowfully gathered the scattered fire together, fanned the embers, applied to them bits of dry fern, then fir cones, and soon a brilliant jet of yellow flame leaped aloft. Martin raised himself to his full height that the fire might illuminate him from head to foot, and so he stood, with his arms folded, thinking what a fine fellow he was, and regretting that no appreciative eye was there to see him. ‘What a splendid creature man is!’ said he to himself or Walter. ‘So great in himself; and yet, how little and mean he becomes through selfishness! I pity Jasper—from my heart I pity him. I am not angry—only sorry.’ CHAPTER LI. A SHOT. ‘OF all things I could have desired—the best!’ exclaimed Martin Babb as Eve came from the cover of the wood upon the rocky floor. She was out of breath, and could not speak. She put both hands on her breast to control her breathing and quiet her throbbing heart. Martin drew one foot over the other, poising it on the toe, and allowed the yellow firelight to play over his handsome face and fine form. The appreciative eye was there. ‘Lovelier than ever!’ exclaimed Martin. ‘Preciosa come to the forest to Alonzo, not Alonzo to Preciosa.’ The forest green! Where warm the summer sheen; And echo calls, And calls—through leafy halls. Hurrah for the life ‘neath the greenwood tree! My horn and my dogs and my gun for me! Trarah! Trarah! Trarah!’ He sang the first verse of the gipsy chorus with rich tones. He had a beautiful voice, and he knew it. The song had given her time to obtain breath, and she said, ‘Oh, Martin, you must go—you must indeed!’ ‘Why, my Preciosa?’ ‘My father knows all—how, I cannot conjecture, but he does know, and he will not spare you.’ ‘My sweet flower,’ said Martin, not in the least alarmed, ‘the old gentleman cannot hurt me. He cannot himself fetch the dogs of justice and set them on me; and he cannot send for them without your consent. There is plenty of time for me to give them the slip. All is arranged. To-night I leave on Jasper’s horse, which he is good enough to lend me.’ ‘You do not know my father. He is not alone—Mr. Coyshe is with him. I cannot answer for what he may do.’ ‘Hah!’ said Martin, ‘I see! Jealousy may spur him on. He knows that we are rivals. Watt, be off with you after the horse. Perhaps it would be better if I were to depart. I would not spare that pill-compounding Coyshe were he in my power, and I cannot expect him to spare me.’ He spoke, and his action was stagy, calculated to impress Eve.