390 THE SMUGGLER. 



of tho women before he went, who followed him out of the 

 room. 



" I merely wish to tell you," he said, in a low voice, when 

 the woman joined him at the top of the stairs, " that I am 

 going back to the wood, to aid in the pursuit of these villains; 

 for I can be of no use here, and may be there. If any of my 

 people come, tell them where to find me; bid them follow me 

 instantly, and stop every man on foot they see quitting the 

 wood, till he gives an account of himself. But had you not 

 better send for a surgeon ?" 



44 One is sent for, sir," replied the woman; "but I think 

 she is not so bad as she was. I'll take care and tell your 

 people. I do hope they will catch them, for this is too bad." 



Without more words Layton went down, remounted his 

 horse, and galloped back towards the edge of the wood. The 

 news of what had happened, however, seemed to have spread 

 over the country with the speed of lightning; for he saw four 

 or five of the peasantry mounted on horseback, already riding 

 in the same direction across the fields. Two stout farmers 

 joined him as he went, and both were already fall of the story 

 of poor Kate Clare. Rage and indignation were universal 

 amongst the people; but as usual on such occasions, one pro- 

 posed one plan, and another the other, so that by want of 

 combination in their operations, all their resolution and eager- 

 ness were likely to be fruitlessly employed. 



Layton knew that it was of little use to argue on such points 

 with undisciplined men ; and his only trust was in the speedy 

 arrival of the soldiers from Iden Green. When he reached 

 the edge of the wood, however, with his two companions, they 

 came upon farmer Harris's party, now swelled to twelve or 

 thirteen men ; and at the same moment his own servant rode 

 round, exclaiming, as soon as he saw his master, " They are 

 still in the wood, sir, if they have not come out this way. 

 They dispersed so that we could not follow them on horse- 

 back, and we galloped out by different ways to watch." 



" They haven't come here," cried farmer Harris, " or we 

 should have seen them. So now we have them safe enough." 



"Ride off towards Iden Green," said Layton to the servant, 

 "and direct Cornet Joyce to bring down his men at the gallop 

 to the edge of the copse. Let him dismount twelve on the 

 north side of the wood, and, with all the farm -servants and 



