252 THE SMUGGLER. 



The horse of the single rider seemed tired and dirty ; and 

 he was himself without a hat ; but nevertheless, they pushed 

 on with such rapidity, that a few seconds from the time when 

 they were first seen, brought steed and horseman into the little 

 parish road which I have mentioned as running in front of the 

 house, and passing round the grounds into the wood. As the 

 fugitive drew near, the maid exclaimed, with a sort of a half 

 scream, " Why, Lord ha' mercy, Matthew, it's young Mr. 

 Radford!" 



"To be sure it is," answered the footman; "didn't you 

 see that before, Betsy? There's a number of the dragoons 

 after him too. He's been up to some of his tricks, I'll war- 

 rant." 



" Well, I hope he won't come in here, at all events," re- 

 joined the maid, "for I shouldn't like it, if we were to have 

 any fighting in the house." 



"I shall go and shut the hall door," said the footman, 

 drily: Richard Radford not having ingratiated himself as much 

 with the servants as he had done with their master. But this 

 precaution was rendered unnecessary; for the young man 

 showed no inclination to enter the house, but passing along 

 the road with the rapidity of an arrow, was soon lost in the 

 wood, without even looking up towards the house of Sir 

 Robert Croyland. Several of the dragoons followed him 

 quickly ; but two of them planted themselves at the corner of 

 the road, and remained there immoveable. 



The maid then observed, that she thought it high time 

 the gentlefolks should be called; and she proceeded to execute 

 her laudable purpose, taking care that tidings of what she 

 had seen concerning Mr. Radford should be communicated to 

 Sir Robert Croyland, to Zara, and to the servant of Sir 

 Edward Digby, who again carried the intelligence to his mas- 

 ter. The whole house was soon afoot; and Sir Robert was 

 just out of his room in his dressing-gown, when three of the 

 soldiers entered the mansion, expressing their determination 

 to search it, and declaring their conviction that the smuggler 

 whom they had been pursuing had taken refuge there. 



In vain Sir Robert Croyland remonstrated, and inquired if 

 they had a warrant ; in vain the servants assured the dragoons 

 that no person had entered during the morning. The Serjeant 

 who was at their head, persisted in asserting that the fugitive 



