THE SMUGGLER. 403 



" I understand you, Harry, and I thank you," said Sir 

 Robert Groyland; " but with my present feelings I would 

 not" 



" You do not understand me fully, Sir Robert," replied 

 Lay ton. " I wish you only to act as you will find just, right, 

 and honourable, and wait for the result. It will be, or I am 

 much mistaken, more favourable to yon, personally, than you 

 imagine. Now, as you have decided on the true and upright 

 course, let us lose no time in carrying it into execution. I 

 will call in the men who have to lay the information; and 

 when you have received it, I will place before you depositions 

 which will justify the most vigorous measures against both 

 father and son. In regard to the latter, I must act under 

 your authority in my military capacity, as I have no civil 

 power there; but in regard to the former, I am already called 

 upon, by the officers of the revenue, to aid them in entering 

 his house by force, and searching it thoroughly." 



" Call them in, Harry; call them inl" replied Sir Robert 

 Croyland;" every man is justified by the law in apprehending 

 a murderer. But you shall have full authority. Kate Clare! 

 How could this have happened?" 



" I will explain as we ride on," answered Lay ton, going to 

 the door; and speaking to one of the servants who was stand- 

 ing in the hall, he added, " Desire Mr. Mowle to walk in, and 

 bring the boy with him." 



In another minute, Mowle entered the room with another 

 man, holding by the arm the boy Ray, whom the smugglers 

 had chosen to denominate Little Starlight. He came, appar- 

 ently, unwillingly, for though ever ready, for money, to spy 

 and to inform secretly, he had a great abhorrence of being 

 brought publicly forward, and when on coming to Mowle that 

 evening with more information, he was detained and told he 

 must go before a magistrate, he had made every possible effort 

 to escape. 



He was now somewhat surprised, on being brought forward 

 after Mowle had laid the information, to find that he was not 

 questioned upon any point affecting the smuggling transactions 

 which had lately taken place, as the evidence upon that sub- 

 ject was sufficient without his testimony. But in regard to 

 the proceedings of young Radford, and to the place where he 

 was concealed, he was interrogated closely. It was all in vain, 



