202 THE SMUGGLER. 



" Never you mind that," rejoined Richard Radford, " there 

 are eighty more at Lympne, and a good number down at 

 Dymchurch already, with plenty of horses. Come, muster, 

 muster, and let us be off, for the landing will begin at one, 

 and we have a good long way to go. Remember, every one," 

 he continued, raising his voice, " that the way is by Butter's 

 Bridge, and then down and along the shore. If any one takes 

 the road by Burmarsh he will fall in with the dragoons. Troop 

 off, my men, troop off. You Ned, and you major, see that 

 the court is quite cleared ; we must have none lagging behind." 



This precaution did not at all disconcert our good friend 

 Mowle, for he judged that he should very easily find the means 

 of detaching himself from the rest at the nearest point to 

 Hythe; and accordingly he walked on with the party he had 

 joined, till they arrived at the spot where he had seen the 

 horses tied. There, however, the greater part mounted, and 

 the others joined a different body, which Mowle was well 

 aware was not quite so safe ; for acting as the chief thereof, 

 and looking very sharply after his party too, was no other than our 

 friend the major. Mowle now took good care to keep silence: 

 a prudent step which was enjoined upon them all by Mr. 

 Radford and some others, who seemed to have the direction 

 of ttie affair. But notwithstanding every care, the tread of 

 so many men and so many horses made a considerable noise, 

 and just as they were passing a small cottage, not a quarter 

 of a mile from Saltwood, the good dame within opened the 

 door to see what such a bustle could be about. As she did 

 so, the light from the interior fell full upon Mowle's face, and 

 the eyes of the major, turned towards the door at the same 

 moment, rested upon him for an instant, and were then with- 

 drawn. It were vain to say that the worthy officer felt quite 

 as comfortable at that moment as if he had been in his own 

 house; but when no notice was taken, he comforted himself 

 with the thought that his disguise had served him well, and 

 trudged on with the rest, without showing any hesitation or 

 surprise. About half a mile farther lay the turning which he 

 proposed to take to reach Hythe ; and he contrived to get over 

 to the left side of the party, in order to drop off in that direc- 

 tion unperceived. When he was within ten steps of it, how- 

 ever, and was congratulating himself that the party, having 

 scattered a little, gave him greater facilities for executing his 



