196 THE SMUGGLER. 



" I sent off for the revenue cruiser this morning, sir," an- 

 swered Mowle. 



" But she is not come," rejoined the officer; " and, conse- 

 quently, must be thrown out of our combinations. If we 

 assemble a large force at any point of the coast, the smug- 

 glers on shore will have warning. They may easily find 

 means of giving notice of the fact to their comrades at sea: 

 the landing may be effected at a different point from that now 

 proposed, and the goods carried clean off before we can reach 

 them. It seems to me, therefore, better for you to let the 

 landing take place quietly. As soon as it has taken place, the 

 beacons will be lighted by my orders ; the very fact of a signal 

 they don't understand will throw the smugglers into seme 

 confusion; and they will hurry out of the Marsh as fast as 

 possible " 



" But suppose they separate, and all take different roads?" 

 said Mowle. 



" Then all, or almost all, the different parties will be met 

 with and stopped," replied the officer. 



" But your men cannot act without a requisition from the 

 customs, sir," answered Mowle; "and they are so devilish 

 cautious of committing themselves " 



"But I am not," rejoined the colonel; "and every party 

 along the whole line has notice that the firing of the beacons 

 is to be taken as a signal that due requisition has been made, 

 and has orders also to stop any body of men carrying goods 

 that they may meet with. But I do not think that these 

 smugglers will separate at all, Mr. Mowle. Their only chance 

 of safety must seem to them, not knowing how perfectly pre- 

 pared we are, to lie in their numbers and their union. Whilo 

 acting together, their numbers, it appears from your account, 

 would be sufficient to force any one post opposed to them, ac- 

 cording to the arrangements which they have every reason to 

 believe still exist; and they will not throw away that chance. 

 It is, therefore, my belief that they will make their way out of 

 the Marsh in one body. After that, leave them to me. I 

 will take the responsibility upon myself." 



"Very well, colonel; very well I" said Mowle; " if you 

 are ready without my knowing anything about it, all the bet- 

 ter. Only the fellow I sent you brought back word something 

 about Folkestone." 



