324 THE SMUGGLER. 



tion, passing one of the dragoons, that were still patrolling 

 round the wood, near the place where the road entered it. 

 The man said something to her, as she went by, but did not 

 attempt to follow; and Kate walked on, looking behind her 

 from time to time, till she was satisfied that her proceedings 

 were unwatched. Then, hurrying on, with a quicker step, she 

 turned to the path which led to the back of the gardens of 

 Harbourne House, and approached the old willow, and the 

 brushwood which covered the place where Richard Radford 

 was concealed. 



" Mr. Radford," she said, as soon as she was quite close, 

 "Mr. Radford! Here is what you wanted. Take it as fast 

 as you can." 



" Is there any one near but you, Kate?" asked the voice of 

 Richard Radford. 



" Oh, nol" she replied; "but the soldiers are still on the 

 outside of the wood watching." 



" I know that," rejoined the voice again, "for I saw them 

 last night, when I tried to get out. But are you sure that 

 none of them followed you, Kate?" 



" Oh I quite sure," she answered, "for I looked behind all 

 the wayl" 



" Well, stay and help me to put the things on," said Richard 

 Radford, issuing forth from behind the bushes, like a snake out 

 of its hole. Kate Clare willingly agreed to help him, and 

 while the gown and the cloak were thrown over his other 

 clothes, told him all his father had said, desiring him not to 

 come up to Radford Hall till he heard more; but to go down 

 to the lone house, near Iden Green, where he would find one 

 or two friends already collected. 



"Why, these are never your own clothes, Kate!'' said 

 young Radford, as she pinned on the gown for him. " They 

 fit as if they were made for me." 



"Not at the back," answered Kate, laughing, "I cannot 

 get the gown to meet there; but that will be covered up by 

 the cloak, so it does not matter. No, they are my aunt's, at 

 Glassenbury; and you must let me have them back, Mr. Rad- 

 ford, as soon as ever you have got to Iden Green; for my 

 mother has promised to return them to-night." 



"I don't know how I shall get them back, Kate, 9 ' answered 

 Richard Radford; " for none of our people will like to venture 



