182 THE SMUGGLER. 



"I thought that Harding was not to set off till to-morrow 

 morning," said one of the more staid-looking of the party at 

 length; "I wonder your father lets him make such changes, 

 Mr. lladford; it looks suspicious, to my thinking." 



"No, no; it was by my father's own orders," said young 

 Eadford; "there's nothing wrong in that. I saw the note 

 sent this evening; so that's all right. By some contrivance 

 of his own, Harding is to give notice to one of the people on 

 Tolsford Hill when he is well in land and all is safe ; and then 

 we shall see a fire lighted on the top, which is to be our signal 

 to gather down on the beach. It's all right in that respect, at 

 least." 



"I'm glad to hear it," answered the other; "and now, as 

 all is settled, had you not better take a glass of grog before 

 you go?" 



"No, no,'' replied the young man, " I'll keep my head cool 

 for to-morrow; for I've got a job to do in the morning that 

 may want a clear eye and a steady hand." 



"Well, then, good luck to you!" said Ned Ramley, laugh- 

 ing; and with this benediction, the young gentleman opened 

 the cottage door. 



He found Galley Eay holding his horse alone ; and as soon 

 as she saw him, she said, "I have sent the boy away, Mr. 

 Kadford, because I wanted to have a chat with you for a 

 minute, all alone, about that blackguard, Harding;" and sink- 

 ing her voice to a whisper, she proceeded for several minutes, 

 detailing her own diabolical notions, of how young liadford 

 might best revenge himself on Harding, with a coaxing man- 

 ner, and sweet tone, which contrasted strangely and horribly, 

 both with the words which she occasionally used, and the 

 general course of her suggestions. Young Radford sometimes 

 laughed, with a harsh sort of bitter unpleasant merriment, 

 and sometimes asked questions, but more frequently remained 

 listening attentively to what she said. 



Thus passed some ten minutes, at the end of which time, 

 he exclaimed, with an oath, "I'll do it!" and then mounting 

 his horse, he rode away slowly and cautiously, on account of 

 the thick fog and narrow and stony road. 



No sooner was he gone, than Little Starlight crept out from 

 between the cottage and a pile of dried furze- bushes, which 

 had been cast down on the left of the hut, at once affording 



