leasure, I can tell you, to give them the go-by, though, to be sure,
we do sometimes have to heave our kegs and bales overboard, but we
generally keep too bright a look-out to have to do that."

"I should like it well enough, Ben; but there are others at home who
would object to my going away on board the lugger. However, I won't say
no, so good night, Ben, and thank you for the fish;" and Dick Hargrave
set off at a brisk pace towards his home, while his evil adviser--for
such Ben Rudall undoubtedly was--entered his cottage, where his wife was
busy preparing supper for him and their children.

An anxious woman was Susan Rudall. Sometimes there was an
over-abundance on the board, and she had more money than she well knew
how to spend. At others it was a hard matter to find a few shillings to
pay the week's bills for bread and other necessaries, though, to be
sure, she could generally obtain credit, as it was hoped that, on the
return of the _Nancy_, Ben would again be flush of money. Sometimes,
however, she, as well as the tradespeople, were disappointed. Then
often and often, while south-westerly gales were blowing, she had the
anxious thought that the _Nancy_ was at sea and might perchance founder,
as other similar craft had done, or be cast on the rocky coast, or be
taken by a revenue vessel, when Ben and his companions, if caught with a
cargo on board, would be thrown into prison, or sent to serve his
Majesty on board a man-of-war for three or four years or more.

Poor Susan's lot was that of many other smugglers' wives, who,
notwithstanding the silks and laces with which they could bedeck
themselves, and the abundance of spirits and tobacco in which their
husbands might indulge, had often a troubled time of it. Not that she,
or any other of the wives and daughters of those engaged in the lawless
trade, thought that there was any harm in it. Probably their fathers
and grandfathers before them, and most of their male relatives, except
those sent off to sea, followed the same calling, and when any were
caught or killed, they looked on their fate as a misfortune which had to
be borne, without considering that it was justly brought upon
themselves.

Meantime, the two midshipmen, after waiting till their patience was
almost exhausted, having seen their portmanteaus put into Silas Fryer's
cart, set off on foot for Elverston Hall.

"I really regret, my dear Oswald, that you should be exposed to this
inconvenienc