He laughed heartily at the simplicity of the youth, and entered
into many details, not so tedious as long, of the various hairbreadth
escapes, narrow chances, and curious enterprises of his own initiation
into the secrets of wood-craft, and to the trials and perils of which,
in his own probation, his experience had necessarily subjected him. At
length he concluded his narrative by seizing upon one portion of Ralph's
language with an adroitness and ingenuity that might have done credit to
an older diplomatist; and went on to invite the latter to quarter upon
himself for a few weeks at least.
"And now Master Colleton, as you are rambling, as you say, indifferent
quite as to what quarter you turn the head of your creature--suppose now
you take up lodgings with me. I have, besides this room, which I only
keep for my use of a Saturday and Sunday when I come to the village--a
snug place a few miles off, and there's room enough, and provisions
enough, if you'll only stop a while and take what's going.
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