topped
short, and in a half whisper, asked me, "whether I heard anything?"
Before I could return a word, he had flung himself on the ground, with
his ear to the sward, and after a moment's listening, said, "here they
come!"

"Who come? There is neither sight nor sound between us and Brighton. Are
you thinking of the custom-house officers?"

The look which I had the benefit of seeing by a blue blaze from the
zenith, and the tone of infinite scorn, in which he slowly repeated the
words, "custom-house officers," were incomparable. "Afraid of _them_!"
said he, as he rose from the wet heather, "as much afraid as the cat is
of the mice. No, those are the dragoons from Lewes."

"Well, what have we to care about them?"

"Care?" said he, with a mixture of frown and grin. "Only that you are
the captain's friend, and I daresay, are going at this time of night to
do a job for him in Brighton yourself--I should think, young gentleman,
you were only laughing at Sam Grapnel. Better not! Why, you see, though
the fellows with their pens behind their ears are no more than
six-watered gin to us, the dragoons are another sort of thing. I must go
back. So, young gentleman, I wish you a very good night."

The oddity of the wish in the midst of this elemental uproar, made me
laugh, shivering as I was. Yet, to be left to find my own way at such a
time, was startling. I offered him money.

"At another opportunity, sir," said he, rather pacified by the offer.
"But, if they come upon the captain unawares, they will find every thing
ready to their hands; all at sixes and sevens just now. It will take an
hour or two before he can clear the cargo off the ground; and there goes
the whole speculation. Don't you hear them? You have only to drop your
ear to the ground, to know the whole affair. A lubber deserted from us a
week ago, and no doubt he has laid the information."

I lay down, and clearly enough heard the trampling of horses, and in
considerable numbers. My own situation was now somewhat embarrassing.
They were evidently coming up in our direction; and, to be found past
midnight, armed, (for my gun had been restored to me,) in company with
an unquestionable smuggler, must have made appearances tell strongly
against me. But my companion's mind was made up with the promptitude of
a life which has no time to waste on thinking.

"I must go back this moment, or all our comrades will be taken in the
fact. And, take my advice, you had better