268 THE SMUGGLER. 



you are going to the house; for there is a door there in the 

 wall of the stable-yard, though that path is seldom, if ever, 

 used now; but, if there be nobody by, you can just set down 

 the basket by the stump of the willow, and ask if. he wants 

 anything more. If he doesn't answer, speak again, and try at 

 all events to find out whether he's there or not, so that I may 

 hear." 



"Oh! I know the place, quite well," said Mrs. Clare. 

 " My poor husband used to get gravel there. But when do 

 you think I had better go, sir? For if the dragoons are still 

 lingering about, a thousand to one but they follow me, and, 

 more likely still, may follow Kate; so I shall go myself to- 

 night, at all events." 



"You had better wait till it is duskish," answered Mr. 

 Radford; "and then they'll soon lose sight of you amongst the 

 trees, for they can't go up there on horseback ; and if they 

 stop to dismount you can easily get out of their way. Let 

 me have any message you may get from Richard ; and don't 

 forget, either, if Harding comes up here, to tell him I want 

 to speak with him very much. He'll be sorry enough for 

 this affair when he hears of it, for the loss is dreadful!" 



"I'm sure he will, sir," said Kate Clare; "for he was 

 talking about something that he had to do, and said it would 

 half kill him, if he did not get it done safely." 



" Ay, he's a very good fellow," answered Mr. Radford, 

 " and you shall have a wedding-gown from me, Kate. Look 

 out of the window, there's a good girl, and see if any of those 

 dragoons are about." 



Kate did as he bade her, and replied in the negative; and 

 Mr. Radford, after giving a few more directions, mounted his 

 horse and rode away, muttering as he went " Ay, Master 

 Harding, I have a strong suspicion of you; and I will soon 

 satisfy myself. They must have had good information, which 

 none could give but you, I think; so look to yourself, my 

 friend. No man ever injured me yet who had not cause to 

 repent it." 



Mr. Radford forgot that he no longer possessed such exten- 

 sive means of injuring others as he had formerly done; but 

 the bitter will was as strong as ever. 



