THE SMUGGLER. 389 



to search for these scoundrels, gallop up to the wood as fast as 

 you can ; you will find my servant and a trooper watching. 

 They will give you information of which way the villains are 

 gone. I will join you in a minute or two with a stronger 

 force." 



" Oh, sir, we shall do! we shall do," cried William Harris; 

 " we will raise the whole county as we go, and will hunt them 

 down like foxes. Do they think that our sisters and our wives 

 are to be ill-used and murdered by such scum as they are?" 

 and at the same time he sprang upon his horse's back. Layton 

 turned towards the house, but met the old farmer himself 

 coming out with a great cavalry sword in his hand, and the 

 butt end of a pistol sticking out of each pocket. " Quick, quick I 

 to your horses!" he cried, "they shall rue the day, they shall 

 rue the day! Ah! sir, go in," he continued, seeing Layton; 

 " she is telling my wife and Harding all about it; but I can't 

 stop to hear. I will have that young Radford's blood, if I have 

 a soul to be saved!" 



" Better take him alive, and hand him over to justice," said 

 Layton, going into the house. 



" D n him, I'll kill him like a dog!" cried the farmer; 

 and mounting somewhat less nimbly than his son, he put him- 

 self at the head of the whole party assembled, and rode fast 

 away towards Hangley Wood. 



In the mean time Layton entered the kitchen of the farm ; 

 but it was quite vacant. Voices, however, were heard speak- 

 ing above, and he ventured to go up and enter the room. 

 Three or four women were assembled there round good Mrs. 

 Harris's own bed, on which poor Kate Clare was stretched, 

 with Harding on his knees beside her, and her hand in his, 

 the hot tears of man's bitterest agony, coursing each other 

 down his bronzed and weather-beaten cheek. 



"There, there!" said Mrs. Harris; "don't take on so, 

 Harding, you only keep down her spirits. She might do very 

 well, if she would but take heart. You see she is better for 

 the cordial stuff I gave her." 



Harding made no reply; but Kate Clare faintly shook her 

 head; and Layton, after having gazed on the sad scene for a 

 moment, with bitter grief and indignation in his heart, drew 

 back, thinking that his presence would only be a restraint to 

 Kate's family and friends. He made a sign, however, to one 



