THE SMUGGLER. 215 



some of liis companions towards him, it is very probable that 

 he would not have given himself the trouble to accompany 

 them on the way. 



" I will pay you the money when I get to Bounington," 

 said young Radford, addressing his companion. " I can't 

 very well get at it till I dismount." 



" Oh! there's no matter for that, sir," replied the smuggler. 

 " Your father can pay me some other time. But what are 

 you going to Bonnington for? I should have thought your 

 best way would have been by Bilsington, and so straight into 

 the Weald. Then you would have had the woods round 

 about you the greater part of the way; or I don't know 

 that I might not have gone farther down still, and so by 

 Orleston." 



"There's a party of dragoons at Bilsington," said young 

 Radford, "and another at Ham Street." 



"Ay, that alters the case," answered the smuggler; "but 

 they are all so scattered about and so few, I should think they 

 could do you no great harm. However, it will be best for 

 you to go by Bonnington, if you are sure there are no troops 

 there." 



" If there are, we must fight: that's all, 5 ' answered young 

 Radford; and so ended the conversation for the time. One of 

 those pauses of deep silence succeeded, which, by the accidental 

 exhaustion of topics and the recurrence of the mind to the 

 thoughts suggested by what has just passed, so frequently 

 intervene in the conversation even of great numbers, whether 

 occupied with light or serious subjects. How often do we 

 find, amidst the gayest or the busiest assembly, a sudden still- 

 ness pervade the whole, and the ear may detect a pin fall. 

 In the midst of the silence, however, Harding laid his hand 

 upon young Radford 's bridle, saying in a low voice, "Hark I 

 do you not hear the galloping of horses to the east there?" 



The young man, on the first impulse, put his hand to his 

 holster; but then withdrew it, and listened. " I think I do," 

 he answered; "but now it has stopped." 



"You are watched, I suspect," said Harding; "they did 

 not seem many, however, and may be afraid to attack you. 

 If I were you, I would put the men into a quicker pace ; for 

 these fellows may gather as they go. If you had got such 

 things with you as you could throw into the cuts, it would 



