236 THE SMUGGLER. 



Daylight was pouring into her room through the tall win- 

 dow; but yet she could hardly persuade herself that she was 

 not dreaming still; for many of the sounds which had trans- 

 mitted such strange impressions to her mind, still rang in 

 her ears. She heard shots and galloping horse, and the loud 

 word of command; and after pausing for an instant or two, she 

 sprang up, cast something over her, and ran to the window. 



It was a bright and beautiful morning; and the room which 

 she occupied looked over Mr. Croyland's garden wall to Jie 

 country beyond. But underneath that garden wall was pre- 

 sented a scene such as Edith had never before witnessed. 

 Before her eyes, mingled in strange confusion with a group of 

 men who, from their appearance, she judged to be smugglers, 

 were a number of the royal dragoons; and, though pistols 

 were discharged on both sides, and even long guns on the part 

 of the smugglers, the use of fire-arms was too limited to pro- 

 duce sufficient smoke to obscure the view. Swords were out, 

 and used vehemently; and on running her eye over the mass 

 before her, she saw a figure that strongly brought back her 

 thoughts to former days. Directing the operations of the 

 troops, seldom using the sword which he carried in his own 

 hand, yet mingling in the thickest of the fray, appeared a tall 

 and powerful young man, mounted on a splendid charger, but 

 only covered with a plain grey cloak. 



The features she could scarcely discern ; but there was some- 

 thing in the form and in the bearing, that made Edith's heart 

 beat vehemently, and caused her to raise her voice to Heaven 

 in murmured prayer. The shots were flying thick: one of 

 them struck the sun-dial in the garden, and knocked a frag- 

 ment off; but still she could not withdraw herself from the 

 window; and with eager and anxious eyes she continued to 

 watch the fight, till another body of dragoons swept up, and 

 the smugglers, apparently struck with panic, abandoned resis- 

 tance, and were soon seen flying in every direction over the 

 ground. 



One man, mounted on a strong grey horse, passed close 

 beneath the garden wall; and in him Edith instantly recog- 

 nised young Richard Radfcrd. That sight made her draw 

 back again for a moment from the window, lest he should re- 

 cognise her; but the next instant she looked out again, and 

 then beheld the officer whom she had seen commanding the 



