64 THE SMUGGLER. 



and although the aperture we have mentioned looked towards 

 the court, joining on to a projecting wall in great part over- 

 thrown, there was a loop-hole on the other side, flanking the 

 very panipet on which they had carried on their conversation. 



After the ivy had moved for a moment, as I have said, 

 something like a human head was thrust out, looking cauti- 

 ously round the court. The next minute a broad pair of 

 shoulders appeared, and then the whole form of a tall and 

 powerful man, who, after pausing for an instant on the top of 

 the broken wall, used its fragments as a means of descent to 

 the ground below. Just as he reached the level of the court, 

 one of the loose stones which he had displaced as he came 

 down, rolled after him and fell at his side ; and, with a sudden 

 start at the first sound, he laid his hand on the butt of a large 

 horse-pistol stuck in a belt round his waist. As soon as he 

 perceived what it was that had alarmed him, he took his hand 

 from the weapon again, and walked out into the moonlight; 

 and thence, after pacing quietly up and down for two or three 

 minutes, to give time for the two other visitors of the castle 

 to get to a distance, he sauntered slowly out through the 

 gate. He then turned under the walls towards the little wood 

 which at that time occupied a part of the valley, opposite to 

 which he stood gazing for about five minutes. When he 

 judged all safe, he gave a whistle, upon which the form of a 

 boy instantly started out from the trees, and came running 

 across the meadow towards him. 



"Have you heard all, Mr. Mowle?" asked the boy in a 

 whisper, as soon as he was near. 



"All that they said, little Starlight," replied the other. 

 "They didn't say enough; but yet it will do, and you are a 

 clever little fellow. But come along," he added, laying his 

 hand on the boy's shoulder, " you shall have what I promised 

 you, and half-a-crown more ; and if you go on, and tell me all 

 you find out, you shall be well paid." 



Thus saying, he walked on with the boy towards Hythe, 

 and the scenery round Saltwood resumed its silent solitude 

 again. 



