21(3 Til E SMUGGLES. 



not much matter, for you could fight it out here, as well ns 

 elsewhere; but, if I understood your father rightly, these goods 

 would all be spoiled, and so the sooner you are out of the 

 Marsh the better. Then you will be safe enough, if you are 

 prudent. You may have to risk a shot or two; but that does 

 not much matter." 



"And what do you call prudent, Harding? 5 ' asked young 

 Radford, in a wonderfully calm tone, considering his vehement 

 temperament, and the excitement of the adventure in which 

 he was engaged; " how would you have me act when I do get 

 out of the Marsh?" 



"Why, that seems clear enough," replied the smuggler. 

 " I would send all the goods and the men on foot, first, keep- 

 ing along the straight road between the woods; and then, 

 with all those who have got horses, I would hang behind a 

 quarter of a mile or so, till the others had time to get on and 

 disperse to the different hides, which ought to be done as soon 

 as possible. Let a number drop off here, and a number there ; 

 one set to the Willow Cave close by Woodchurch Hill, another 

 to the old Priory in the wood, and so on, you still keeping 

 behind, and facing about upon the road, if you are pursued. 

 If you do that, you are sure to secure the goods, or by far the 

 greater part of them." 



The advice was so good, as far as young Radford knew of 

 the condition of the country, and the usual plan of operations 

 which had hitherto been pursued by the customs' in their 

 pursuits of the smugglers, that he could offer no reasonable 

 argument against it; but when prejudice has taken possession 

 of a man's mind, it is a busy and skilful framer of suspicions ; 

 and he thought within his own breast, though he did not speak 

 his intentions aloud, "No! Hang me if I leave the goods till 

 I see them safe housed. This fellow may want to ruin us, by 

 separating us into small parties." 



The rest of the party had by this time resumed their con- 

 versation, and both Radford and Harding well knew that it 

 would be vain to attempt to keep them quiet, for they were a 

 rash and careless set, inclined to do everything with dash and 

 swagger ; and although in the presence of actual and apparent 

 danger, they could be induced to preserve some degree of 

 order and discipline, and to show some obedience to their 

 leaders, yet as soon as the peril had passed away, or was no 



