THE SMUGGLER. 387 



man rushed on, exclaiming, "Kate, what is all this? Villain, 

 have you misused the girl?" 



" Hush, hush!" cried Layton, with a stern gesture of his 

 hand; "she is dying! I would have saved her if I could; 

 but, alas! I came too late." 



The whole expression of Harding 's countenance changed in 

 an instant. Grief and terror succeeded to rage; and, catching 

 her frantically in his arms, he exclaimed, " Kate, Kate, speak 

 to me! Tell me, who has done this?" 



" I can tell you," answered Layton: " Richard Radford." 



While he was speaking, Kate Clare opened her eyes again, 

 and gazed on Harding's face, moving her hand faintly round 

 and placing it upon his. 



" Give me that handkerchief from your neck," said Layton; 

 i - if we can stop the blood, we may save her yet. I have seen 

 very bad wounds recovered from " 



" No, no!" said Kate Clare; " thank God, I am dying; I 

 would rather diel Harding, I am not in fault: they caught 

 me in the wood. Oh! they treated me horribly. Mr. Rad- 

 ford said it was revenge. God forgive him! God forgive 

 him ! But I would rather die thus in your arms. Do not 

 try to stop it; it is all in vain." 



Layton and Harding still persisted, however, and bound 

 another handkerchief tight over the wound, in some degree 

 diminishing the stream of blood, but yet not stopping it 

 entirely. 



"Let us carry her to some house/' cried Layton, "and then 

 send for assistance. See! her lips are not so pale." 



" I will carry her," cried Harding, raising her in his power- 

 ful arms. 



"To my aunt's, then; to my aunt's, Harding," muttered 

 Kate; "I would sooner die there than in any other place." 

 And on Harding sped without reply, while Layton, sheathing 

 his sword, which he had cast down, followed him, inquiring, 

 "Is it far?" 



" But a step, sir," answered the smuggler. " Pray, come 

 with us. This must be avenged." 



"It shall," replied Layton, sternly; "but I must stay here 

 for a minute or two, till you can send somebody to me to take 

 my place, and let my men know where I am when they 

 return." 



