‘Oh, Miss Anne,’ cried Stephen, ’I feel as if I could bear anything when I think of that!  Only I wish I was as strong as an angel.’

‘Patience is better than strength,’ said Miss Anne, in a tone as if she were speaking to herself:  ’patiently to bear the will of God, and patiently to keep His commandments, is greater and more glorious than the strength of an angel.’

‘Black Thompson was so kind to me all to-day,’ said Stephen, sighing; ’and now he’ll be ten times worse if I go back from telling him where the black game is.’

‘You must do right,’ replied Miss Anne, with a glance that brought back true courage to the boy’s heart; ’and remember that “blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Now, good-night, Stephen.  Go and bury poor Snip while there is daylight, in some quiet place where you can go and think and read and play sometimes.’

Stephen returned to the hut for a spade, and then went, with a strange blending of grief and gladness, to the place where he had left his poor dog.  He chose a solitary yew tree on the hill for the burial ground, and dug as deep a grave as he could among the far-spreading roots.  It was strange, only such things do happen now and then, that while he was working away hard and fast, with the dead dog lying by under the trunk of the yew tree, the gamekeeper himself passed that way.  He had been in a terrible temper all day, for he had discovered the mischief done down in the fir-coppice, and the loss of his carefully-preserved covey.  The sight of Stephen and dead Snip irritated him; though a feeling of shame crept over him as he saw how tear-stained the boy’s face was.

‘Mr. Jones,’ said Stephen, ‘I’ve something to say to you.’

‘Be sharp, then,’ replied the gamekeeper, ’and mind what you’re about.  I’ll not take any impudence from a young rascal like you.’

‘It’s no impudence,’ answered Stephen; ’only I know to some black game, and I wanted to tell you about them.’

‘Black game!’ he said contemptuously.  ’A likely story.  There’s been none these half-dozen years.’

‘It’s four years since,’ answered Stephen; ’I remember, because grandfather and I saw them the day mother died, when little Nan was born.  I couldn’t forget them or mistake them after that.  They are at the head of the Black Valley, where the quaking noise begins.  I’m sure I’m right, sir.’

‘You are not making game of me?’ asked Jones, laughing heartily at his own wit.  ’Well, my lad, if this is true, it will be worth something to me.  Hark ye, I’m sorry about your dog, and you shall choose any one of mine you like, if you’ll promise to keep him out of mischief.’

‘I couldn’t have another dog in Snip’s place,’ replied Stephen in a choked voice; ‘at any rate not yet, thank you, sir.’

‘Well,’ said the gamekeeper, shouldering his gun, and walking off, ’I’ll be your friend, young Fern, when it does not hurt myself.’