THE SMUGGLER. 205 



lie thought; "and I believe a more honest fellow does not 

 live. It was a rash and foolish undertaking. The measures 

 I have adopted could not fail. Hark ! there is the clock strik- 

 ing. We must lose no more time. We may save him yet, 

 or at all events avenge him." He then called the soldier from 

 the door, and sent off a messenger to the house of the second 

 officer of customs, named Birchett, who came up in a few 

 minutes. 



" Mr. Birchett," said the colonel, " I fear our friend Mowle 

 has got himself into a scrape;" and he proceeded to detail as 

 many of the circumstances as were necessary to enable the 

 other to comprehend the situation of affairs; and ended by 

 asking, "Are you prepared to act in Mr. Mowle's absence?" 



"Oh! yes, sir," answered Birchett. "Mowle did not tell 

 me the business; but he said, I must have my horse saddled. 

 He was always a close fellow, and kept all the intelligence to 

 himself." 



" In this case it was absolutely necessary," replied the 

 colonel; "but without any long explanations, I think you had 

 better ride down towards Dymchurch at once, with all the 

 men you can trust, keeping as sharp a look-out as you can on 

 the coast, and sending me information the moment you receive 

 intelligence that the run has been effected. Do not attempt 

 to attack the smugglers without sufficient force; but despatch 

 two men by different roads, to intimate the fact to me at Al- 

 dington Knowle, where I shall be found throughout the night." 



"Ay, sir," answered the officer, "but suppose the fellows 

 take along by Burrnarsh, and so up to Hardy Pool. They 

 will pass you, and be off into the country before anything can 

 be done." 



"They will be stopped at Burmarsh," replied the colonel; 

 " orders have been given to barricade the road at nightfall, 

 and to defend the hamlet against any one coming from the sea. 

 I shall establish another post at Lympne as I go. Leave all 

 that to me." 



" But you must have a requisition, sir, or I suppose you are 

 not authorised to act," said the officer. "I will get one for 

 you in a minute." 



" I have one," answered the colonel, laying his hand on the 

 papers before him; "but even were it not so, I should act on 

 my own responsibility. This is no ordinary case, Mr. Birchett. 



