THE SMUGGLER. 1 1 



first that was ever beheld in the place. Close to the sea the 

 hills are bare enough ; but at no great distance inland, they 

 become rich in wood, and the Weald, whether arable or pas- 

 ture, or hop-garden or orchard, is so divided into small fields 

 by numerous hedgerows of fine trees, and so diversified by 

 patches of wood-land, that, seen at a little distance up the hill 

 . not high enough to view it like a map it assumes, in the 

 leafy season, almost the look of a forest partially cleared. 



Along the southern edge, then, of the hills we have men- 

 tioned, and in the plainer valley that stretches away from 

 their feet, amongst the woods, and hedgerows, and villages, 

 and parks which embellish that district, keeping generally in 

 Kent, but sometimes trespassing a little upon the fair county 

 of Sussex, lies the scene of the tale which is to follow, at a 

 period when the high calling, or vocation, of smuggling was 

 in its most palmy days. But ere I proceed to conduct the 

 reader into the actual locality where the principal events here 

 recorded really took place, I must pause for an instant in the 

 capital, to introduce him to one or two travelling companions. 



CHAPTER IT. 



IT was in the grey of the morning, and very grey, indeed, 

 the morning was, with much more black than white in the 

 air, much more of night still remaining in the sky than of day 

 appearing in the east; when, from the old Golden Cross, 

 Charing Cross, or rather from the low and narrow archway 

 which, at that time, gave exit from its yard into the open street, 

 exactly opposite the statue of King Charles, issued forth a 

 vehicle which had not long lost the name of diligence, and 

 assumed that of stage-coach. Do not let the reader delude 

 himself into the belief that it was like the stage-coach of his 

 own recollections in any other respect than in having four 

 wheels, and two doors, and windows. Let not fancy conjure 

 up before him flat sides of a bright claret colour, and a neat 

 boot as smooth and shining as a looking-glass, four bays, or 

 browns, or greys, three parts blood, and a coachman the pink 

 of all propriety. Nothing of the kind was there. The vehi- 

 cle was large and roomy, capable of containing within, at 

 least, six travellers of large size. It was hung in a somewhat 



