THE SMUGGLER. 369 



(jranbrook, and nine or ten at Tenderden, with some of the 

 goods, too." 



" Ah, that's welll" answered young Kadford; " I thought 

 all the goods had been taken." 



" Oh! dear no," replied Jim Ramley, "we've got a thousand 

 pounds' worth in this house, and I dare say double as much 

 is scattered about in different hides. The light things were 

 got off; but they are the most valuable.'' 



" I'll tell you what, my men,'' cried young Radford, "as 

 soon as these soldiers are gone down to the coast again, we'll 

 all gather together, and do some devilish high thing, just to 

 show them that they are not quite masters of the country yet. 

 I've a great mind to burn their inn at Woodchnrch, just for 

 harbouring them. If we don't make these rascally fellows fear 

 us, the trade will be quite put down in the county." 



44 1 swear," exclaimed Ned Ramley, with a horrible blas- 

 phemy, "that if I can catch any one who has peached, even 

 if it be but by one word, I will split his head like a lobster." 



"And I, too!'' answered his brother; and several others 

 joined in the oath. 



The conversation then took another turn, and while it went 

 on generally around the table, young Radford spoke several 

 times in a low voice to the two who sat next to him, and the 

 name of Harding was more than once mentioned. The glass 

 circulated very freely also ; and although none of them became 

 absolutely intoxicated, yet all of them were more or less 

 affected by the spirits, when the boy whom we have called 

 Little Starlight, crept quietly into the room, and approached 

 Mr. Radford. 



" She's not come, sir," he said; "I waited a long while, 

 and then went and asked the old woman of the shop, telling 

 her that I was to be sure and see that Kate Clare got the 

 bundle; but she said that she certainly wouldn't come to- 

 night." 



"That's a good boy," said young Radford. " Go and tell 

 the people to bring us some candles; and then I'll give you 

 a glass of Hollands for your pains. It's getting infernally 

 dark," he continued, " and as nothing more is to be done to- 

 day, we may as well make a night of it." 



" No, no," answered one of the men at the bottom of the 

 table, " I've had enough, and I shall go and turn in." 

 A A 



