370 THE SMUGGLER. 



Nobody opposed him; and he and his companion soon after 

 left them. A smile passed round amongst the rest as soon as 

 the two had shut the door. 



" Now those puny fellows are gone," said Jim Ramley, " we 

 can say what we like. First, let us talk about the goods, Mr. 

 Radford, for I don't think they are quite safe here. They had 

 better be got up to your father's as soon as possible, for if the 

 house were to be searched, we could get out into the wood, but 

 they could not." 



"Hark!" said young Radford; " there's some one knock- 

 ing hard at the house door, I think." 



"Ay, trust all that to Obadiah," said Ned Ramley. " He 

 won't open the door till he sees who it is." 



The minute after, however, old Mr. Radford stood amongst 

 them ; and he took especial care not to throw any damp upon 

 their spirits, but rather to encourage them, and make light oi 

 the late events. He sat down for a few minutes by his son, 

 took a glass of Hollands and water, and then whispered to his 

 hopeful heir that he wanted to speak with him for a minute, 

 The young man instantly rose, and led the way out into the 

 room opposite, which was vacant. 



"By heaven, Dick, this is an awkward job!" said his fa- 

 ther; " the loss is enormous, and never to be recovered." 



" The things are not all lost," answered Richard Radford. 

 " A great quantity of the goods are about the country. There's 

 a thousand pounds' worth, they say, in this house.' 7 



"We must have them got together as fat as possible." 

 said Mr. Radford, " and brought up to our place. All that is 

 here had better be sent up about three o'clock in the morning." 



"I'll bring them up myself," replied his son. 



44 No, no, no!" said Mr. Radford; "you keep quiet where 

 you are, till to-morrow night." 



"Pooh, nonsense," answered the young man; " I'm not at 

 all afraid. Very well, very well, they shall come up, and I'll 

 follow to-morrow night, if you think I can be at the Hall in 

 safety." 



" I don't intend you to be long at the Hall," answered Mr. 

 Radford: " you must take a trip over the sea, my boy, till we 

 can make sure of a pardon for you. There ! you need not look; 

 so blank. You shan't go alone. Come up at eleven o'clock; 

 and you will find Edith Croylaud waiting to give you her hand, 



