404 THE SMUGGLER. 



however. To obtain a straightforward answer from him was 

 impossible; and although Mowle repeated distinctly that the 

 boy had casually said, the murderer of poor Kate Clare had 

 gone to his father's house, Little Starlight lied and pre- 

 varicated at every word, and impudently, though not unskil- 

 fully, attempted to put another meaning on his previous 

 admission. 



As time was wearing away, however, Sir Henry Layton, at 

 length, interposed; " I think it is unnecessary, Sir Robert," 

 he said, " to push this inquiry further at present. As the 

 whole house and premises must be searched on other grounds, 

 we shall discover the villain if he is there. Mr. Mowle and I 

 have adopted infallible means, I think, to prevent his escaping 

 .from any point of the coast; and the magistrates at every 

 port were this evening furnished with such information that, if 

 they act with even a moderate degree of ability, he must be 

 taken." 



"Besides, sir,'' rejoined Mowle, "the frigate has come round ; 

 and she will take care that, with this wind, not a boat big 

 enough to carry him over shall get out. We had better set 

 out, your worship, if you please; for if old Radford gets an 

 inkling of what is going on, he will double upon us some 

 way." 



" I am quite ready,'' said Sir Robert Croyland. "I will 

 call my clerk to accompany us as we go, in case of any further 

 proceedings being necessary. We must pass through the vil- 

 lage where he lives." 



With a firm step he moved towards the door ; and, strange 

 as it may seem, though for six years, while supposing he was 

 taking the only means of self-preservation, he had lived in con- 

 stant terror and anxiety, he felt no fear, no trepidation now, 

 when he had determined to do what was right at every per- 

 sonal risk. An enfeebling spell seemed to have been taken off 

 his mind, and the lassitude of doubt and indecision was gone., 

 But such is almost always the result, even upon the nerves of 

 our corporeal frame, of a strong effort of mental energy. It is 

 one thing certainly to resolve and another to do ; but the very act 

 of resolution, if it be sincerely exerted, affords a degree of vigour 

 which is sure to produce as great results as the means at our 

 disposal can accomplish. Energetic determination will carry 

 men through things that seem impossible, as a bold heart will 



