60 THE SMUGGLER. 



" Ay, that you must," replied the smuggler, thoughtfully. 

 " I think you said the cargo was light goods." 



" Almost all India," said Radford, in return. " Shawls and 

 painted silks, and other things of great value but small bulk. 

 There are a few bales of lace, too ; but the whole will require 

 well nigh a hundred horses to carry it, so that we must have 

 a strong muster." 



" Ay, and men who fight, too," rejoined Harding. " You 

 know there are dragoons down at Folkestone?" 



"No! when did they come?" exclaimed Radford, eagerly. 

 " That's a bad job, that's a bad job! Perhaps they suspect 

 already. Perhaps some of those fellows from the other side 

 have given information, and these soldiers are sent down in 

 consequence; I shouldn't wonder, I shouldn't wonder." 



"Pooh, nonsense, Mr. Radford!" replied Harding; "you 

 are always so suspicious. Some day or another you'll sus- 

 pect me." 



" I suspect everybody," cried Radford, vehemently, " and I 

 have good cause. I have known men do such things, for a 

 pitiful gain, as would hang them, if there were any just punish- 

 ment for treachery." 



Harding laughed, but he did not explain the cause of his 

 merriment, though probably he thought that Mr. Radford 

 himself would do many a thing for a small gain, which would 

 not lightly touch his soul's salvation. He soon proceeded, 

 however, to reply, in a grave tone. " That's a bad plan, Mr. 

 Radford. No man is ever well served by those whom he 

 suspects. He had better never have anything to do with a 

 person he doubts; so, if you doubt me, I'm quite willing to 

 give the business up, for I don't half like it." 



"Oh, no!" said Radford, in a smooth and coaxing tone, 

 " I did not mean you, Harding; I know you too well for as 

 honest a fellow as ever lived ; but I do doubt those fellows on 

 the other side, and I strongly suspect they peached about the 

 other two affairs. Besides, you said something about dragoons, 

 and we have not had any of that sort of vermin here for a year 

 or more." 



"You frighten yourself about nothing," answered Harding. 

 " There is but a troop of them yet, though they say more are 

 expected. But what good are dragoons? I have run many 

 a cargo under their very noses, and hope I shall live to run 



