parish and see if everybody is in bed, John; and if
all is quiet, we will do as I say.'

They went on, and the two inside the window could hear them passing
leisurely through the whole village, the street of which curved round at
the bottom and entered the turnpike road at another junction. This way
the excisemen followed, and the amble of their horses died quite away.

'What will you do?' said Stockdale, withdrawing from his position.

She knew that he alluded to the coming search by the officers, to divert
her attention from their own tender incident by the casement, which he
wished to be passed over as a thing rather dreamt of than done. 'O,
nothing,' she replied, with as much coolness as she could command under
her disappointment at his manner. 'We often have such storms as this.
You would not be frightened if you knew what fools they are. Fancy
riding o' horseback through the place: of course they will hear and see
nobody while they make that noise; but they are always afraid to get off,
in case some of our fellows should burst out upon 'em, and tie them up to
the gate-post, as they have done before now. Good-night, Mr. Stockdale.'

She closed the window and went to her room, where a tear fell from her
eyes; and that not because of the alertness of the riding-officers.

CHAPTER VI--THE GREAT SEARCH AT NETHER-MOYNTON

Stockdale was so excited by the events of the evening, and the dilemma
that he was placed in between conscience and love, that he did not sleep,
or even doze, but remained as broadly awake as at noonday. As soon as
the grey light began to touch ever so faintly the whiter objects in his
bedroom he arose, dressed himself, and went downstairs into the road.

The village was already astir. Several of the carriers had heard the
well-known tramp of Latimer's horse while they were undressing in the
dark that night, and had already communicated with each other and Owlett
on the subject. The only doubt seemed to be about the safety of those
tubs which had been left under the church gallery-stairs, and after a
short discussion at the corner of the mill, it was agreed that these
should be removed before it got lighter, and hidden in the middle of a
double hedge bordering the adjoining field. However, before anything
could be carried into effect, the footsteps of many men were heard coming
down the lane from the highway.

'Damn it, here they be,' said Owlett, who, having already drawn the hat