266 THE SMUGGLER. 



"Oh! yes, my dear," answered Mr. Radford, in a kindly 

 tone, " you need not alarm yourself. He was not in it at all. 

 I don't say he had no share in running the goods, for that is 

 pretty well known, I believe, and he did his part of the work 

 well ; but the poor fellows who were bringing up the things, 

 by some folly, or mistake, I do not know which, got in amongst 

 the dragoons, were attacked, and nearly cut to pieces." 



"Ay, then, that is what the soldiers are hanging about here 

 for," said Mrs. Clare. 



" It's a sad affair for me, indeed 1" continued Mr. Radford, 

 thoughtfully. 



"I am truly sorry to hear that, sir," exclaimed Mrs. Clare; 

 " for you have been always very kind to me." 



" Well, my good lady," replied her visitor, " perhaps you 

 may now be able to do me a kindness in return," said Mr. 

 Radford. " To tell you the truth, my son was in this affray. 

 He made his escape when he found that they could not hold 

 their ground, and it is for him that the soldiers are now look- 

 ing; at least, I suspect so. Perhaps you may be able to give 

 a little help, if he should be concealed about here?" 



" That I will," said Widow Clare, "if it cost me one of my 

 hands 1" 



"Oh! there will be no danger," answered Mr. Radford; "I 

 only wish yon, in case he should be lying where I think he is, 

 to take care that he has food till he can get away. It might 

 be better for Kate here to go rather than yourself; or one 

 could do it at one-time, and the other at another. With a 

 basket on her arm, and a few eggs at the top, Kate could trip 

 across the wood as if she were going to Harbourne House. 

 You could boil the eggs hard, you know, and put some bread 

 and other things underneath. Then, at the place where I sup- 

 pose he is, she could quietly put down the basket and walk on." 



" But you must tell me where he is, sir," answered Mrs. 

 Clare. 



"Certainly," replied Mr. Radford; "that is to say, I can 

 tell you where I think he is. Then, when she gets near it, 

 she can look round to see if there's any one watching, and if 

 she sees no one, can say aloud, 'Do you want anything?' If 

 he's there he'll answer; and should he send any message to 

 me, one of you must bring it up. I shan't forget to repay 

 you for your trouble." 



