THE SMUGGLER. 



the line of my duty, my good friend ; and I will admit that 

 many of these very misguided men themselves, who are carry- 

 ing on an illegal traffic in this daring manner, fancy themselves 

 justified by such arguments as you have just now used; nay, 

 more, I do believe that there are some men amongst them of 

 high and noble feelings, who never dream they are dishonest 

 in breaking a law that they dislike. But if we break one law 

 thus, why should we keep any? Why not add robbery and 

 murder if it suits us?'' 



" Ay, there are high minded and noble men amongst them," 

 answered Warde, not seeming to heed the latter part of what 

 his companion said, " and there stands one of them. He has 

 evil in him doubtless, for he is a man and an Englishman ; 

 but I have found none here who has less, and many who have 

 more. Yet were that man taken in pursuing his occupation, 

 they would imprison, exile, perhaps hang him, while a multi- 

 tude of knaves in gilded co.ats would be suffered to go on com- 

 mitting every sin, and almost every crime, unpunished: a good 

 man, an excellent man, and yet a smuggler." 



The young officer knew it was in vain to reason with him, 

 for in the frequent intercourse they had held together, he had 

 perceived that, with many generous and noble feelings, with a 

 pure heart, and almost ascetic severity of life, there was a 

 certain perversity in the course of Mr. Warde's thoughts which 

 rendered it impossible to turn them from the direction which 

 they naturally took. It seemed as if, by long habit, they had 

 channelled for themselves so deep a bed that they could never 

 be diverted thence, arid, consequently, without replying at first, 

 he merely turned his eyes in the direction which the other 

 pointed out, trying to catch sight of the person of whom he 

 spoke. They were now on the low sandy shore which runs 

 along between the town of Hythe and the beautiful little 

 watering-place of Sandgate. But it must be recollected that, 

 at the time I speak of, the latter place displayed no ornamental 

 villas, no gardens full of flowers, almost touching on the sea, 

 and consisted merely of a few fishermen's, or rather smugglers' 

 huts, with one little public house, and a low-browed shop, 

 filled with all the necessities that the inhabitants might require. 

 Thus nothing like the mass of buildings which the watering 

 place now can boast, lay between them and the Folkestone 

 cliffs; and the whole line of the coast, except at one point, 



