THE SMUGGLER. 393 



though taken himself. Hiding quickly across to the farm, 

 then, together with Mowle and the cornet, he interrogated 

 the men separately, but found they were all in the same story, 

 from which they varied not in the least ; that Richard Rad- 

 ford had crept out by the hedges near the wood, and had gone 

 first to a place where a horse was in waiting for him, and 

 thence would make straight to the sea-side, where a boat was 

 already prepared. Instant measures to prevent him from 

 executing this plan now became necessary ; and Layton 

 directed the cornet to hasten away as fast as possible in 

 pursuit, sending information from Woodchurch to every point 

 of the coast where the offender was likely to pass, spreading 

 out his men so as to cover all the roads to the sea, and only 

 leaving at the farm a sufficient guard to secure the prisoners. 



On hearing the latter part of this order, however, farmer 

 Harris exclaimed, "No, no, sir; no need of that. We've 

 taken them, and we'll keep them safe enough. I'll see these 

 fellows into prison myself; ay, and hanged too, please God! 

 and we'll guard them sure, don't you be afraid." 



Layton looked to Mowle, saying, " I must abide by your 

 decision, Mr. Mowle." But the officer answered, " Oh 1 you 

 you may trust them, sir, quite safely, after all I hear has hap- 

 pened. But I think, Mr. Harris, you had better have just a 

 few men to help you. You've got no place to keep them 

 here ; and they must be taken before a magistrate first, before 

 they can be committed.'' 



" Oh! we'll keep them safe enough," replied the farmer. 

 "We'll put them in Goudhurst church, till we can send them 

 off, and, in the mean time, I'll have them up before Squire 

 Broughton. My son's a constable, so they are in proper 

 hands." 



" Very well," answered Layton; u in this case I have no 

 right to interfere; but, of course, you are responsible for their 

 safe custody." 



"I say, Mowle," cried Ned Ramley, in his usual daring 

 manner, " bid them gave me something to drink, for I'm 

 devilish thirsty; and I'll give you some information, if you 

 will." 



Mowle obtained some beer for him, and then demanded, 

 "Well, what is it, Ned?" 



44 Why, only this," said Ned Ramley, after they had held 



