THE SMUGGLER. 227 



said, "I see you are going upon some scheme, captain. I 

 wish to Heaven you would tell me what it is ; for you can't 

 imagine how anxious I am about this affair." 



"My good friend," replied Captain Irby, "I know no more 

 of the matter than you do ; so I can tell you nothing about it. 

 I am acting under orders; and the only difference between 

 you and I is, that you, not being accustomed to do so, arc 

 always puzzling yourself to know what it all means, while I, 

 being well drilled to such things, do not trouble my head 

 about it, but do as I am told, quite sure that it will all go 

 right." 



"Heaven send it!" answered Mowle; "but here it is broad 

 daylight, and we seem to be going farther and farther from 

 our object every minute." 



As if in answer to his last observation, the word was again 

 passed down from the front, "On before 1" and Captain Irby 

 immediately halted his troop for about five minute:?. At the 

 end of that time, the march was resumed, and shortly after 

 the whole body issued out upon the side of one of the hills, a 

 few miles from Woodchurch. 



The sun was now just risen; the east was glowing with 

 all the hues of early day; the mist was dispersed or left 

 behind in the neighbourhood of the Marsh; and a magnificent 

 scene, all filled with golden light, spread out beneath the eyes 

 of the custom-house officer. But he had other objects to con- 

 template much more interesting to him than the beauties of 

 the landscape. About three-quarters of a mile in advance, 

 and in the low ground to the north-west of the hill on which 

 he stood, appeared a dark, confused mass of men and horses, 

 apparently directing their course towards Tiffenden ; and 

 Mowle's practised eye instantly perceived that they were the 

 smugglers. At first sight he thought, " They may escape us 

 yet:" but following the direction in which Captain Irby's 

 glance was turned, he saw, further on, in the open fields 

 towards High Halden, a considerable body of horse, whose 

 regular line at once showed them to be a party of the mili- 

 tary. Then turning towards the little place on his left, called 

 Cuckoo Point, he perceived, at the distance of about a mile, 

 another troop of dragoons, who must have marched, he thought, 

 from Brenzct and Appledore. 



The smugglers seemed to become aware, nearly at the same 



