THE SMUGGLER. 433 



hundred guineas to have shot me as I sat there; but no man 

 shall ever take me, and clap me up in a cell. I could not bear 

 that, and my poor Kate lying dead there, tool I'll go, as you 

 say." 



But before he could execute his purpose, a small party of 

 dragoons, commanded by a lieutenant, with Birchett, the riding- 

 officer, and two or three of his companions, came up at a trot, 

 and poured through the gate of the churchyard, which was 

 now open. 



Sir Edward Digby advanced at once towards them, if the 

 truth must be told, to cover Harding'a retreat; but Birchett's 

 quick, shrewd eye had run round the place in an instant, and, 

 before the young baronet had taken two steps along the path, 

 he cried, "Why, there is Harding! Stop himl stop him! 

 We have information against him! Don't let him passl" 



"I will pass, though," cried Harding, leaping at once upon 

 the back of Richard Radford's horse. "Now, stop me, if you 

 canl" and striking it with his heel, he turned the animal across 

 the churchyard, taking an angle away from the dragoons. 

 Birchett spurred after him in a moment, and the other officers 

 followed, but the soldiers did not move. Passing close by the 

 spot where young Radford lay, as the officers tried to cut him 

 off from the gate, Harding cried, with a wild and bitter laugh, 

 " He is a good leaper, I knowl" and instantly pushed his horse 

 at the wall. 



The gallant beast took it at once, and dashed away with its 

 rider along the road. The officers of customs dared not trust 

 their own cattle with the same feat; but Birchett exclaimed, 

 in a loud and imperative tone, turning to the lieutenant of 

 dragoons, " I require your aid in capturing that man. He is 

 one of the most daring smugglers on the whole coast. We 

 can catch him easily, if we are quick." 



" I do not know that I am authorized," said the lieutenant, 

 not well pleased with the man's manner; "where no armed 

 resistance is apprehended, I doubt if " 



"But there may be resistance, sir," replied Birchett, 

 vehemently; "he is gone to join his comrades. Well, the 

 responsibility be on your headl I claim your aid! Refuse it 

 or not, as you shall think fit. I claim and require it instantly." 



" What do you think, sir?" asked the young officer, turning 

 to Digby. 



EE 



