224 THE SMUGGLER. 



countenance of the young officer, and anxious haste upon that 

 of the inferior soldier. 



"Here is Mr. Mowle, the chief officer, captain,'' said the 

 sergeant, as they advanced. 



"Ha, that is fortunate!" replied Captain Irby. "Now we 

 shall get at the facts, I suppose. Well, Mr. Mowle, what 

 news?'' 



" Why, sir, the cargo is landed," exclaimed Mowle, eagerly ; 

 " and the smugglers passed by Bonnington, up towards Che- 

 quer-tree, not twenty minutes ago." 



" So this man says," rejoined Captain Irby, not the least 

 in the world in haste. "Have you any fresh orders from the 

 colonel ?" 



"No, sir; he said all his orders were given when last I 

 saw him," replied the officer of customs; "but if you move 

 up quick towards Chequer-tree, you are sure to overtake 

 them." 



"How long is it since you saw Sir Henry?" demanded 

 Captain Irby, without appearing to notice Mowle's sugges- 

 tion. 



"Oh! several hours ago," answered the custom-house 

 agent, somewhat provoked at the young officer's coolness. 

 "I have been kept prisoner by the smugglers since ten o'clock: 

 but that is nothing to the purpose, sir. If you would catch 

 the smugglers, you have nothing for it but to move to Che- 

 quer-tree after them ; and that is what I require you to do." 



" I have my orders," answered the captain of the troop, 

 with a smile at the impetuous tone of the custom-house officer; 

 " and if you bring me none later, those I shall obey, Mr. 

 Mowle." 



" Well, sir, you take the responsibility upon yourself, then," 

 said Mowle; "I have expressed my opinion, and what I re- 

 quire at your hands." 



" The responsibility will rest where it ought," replied 

 Captain Irby, " on the shoulders of him whom I am bound 

 to obey. For your opinion I am obliged to you, but it can- 

 not be followed; and as to what you require, I am under 

 superior authority, which supersedes your requisition." 



He then said a word or two to one of the men beside him, 

 who immediately proceeded to the body of men behind; but 

 all that Mowle could hear was "Suave" and "Brenzet," re- 



