g to receive his
visitors in his own cottage. He had therefore fixed upon this spot. At
last I began to think that they intended to spend the night there. I
heard footsteps approaching, and I now feared that I should be
discovered; but the new comers followed the path which led to the
opposite side of the barn to that where I was sitting. I judged by the
voices that there were three of them. They once more went over the
matters that the others had before discussed, having apparently no fear
of being overheard. They all spoke in their ordinary voices, only
occasionally dropping them. "Now is the time," I thought, "of making my
escape; while they are talking they will not hear me, and I may creep
away to a distance without being discovered." I put my plan into
execution. The men continued talking on; their voices sounded fainter
and fainter as I got farther away from the barn. Fancying that I was
safe, I at last rose to my feet, intending to run as fast as my legs
could carry me. Scarcely, however, had I began to move forward, when I
heard a shout, followed by the sound of footsteps. I fully expected,
should the smugglers fancy that I had overheard them to get a knock on
the head if I was overtaken. I had always been tolerably fleet of foot,
and as I had no desire to be so treated, I set off running as hard as I
could. I hadn't got far, however, before I fancied I heard some one
coming. In a short time I was nearly certain of it, but I didn't stop
to listen. In daylight I should have had no difficulty in keeping ahead
of my pursuers, but the ground was rough, and I had to turn aside to
avoid bushes and rocks. Still the impediments in my way would also
assist to stop them, and I didn't despair of escaping. I had to cross
over a ridge, at the top of which I was exposed to view. I had just
reached it, when I heard some one shout. "You may shout as loud as you
like," thought I, "but I'm not going to stop in consequence." Down the
hill I rushed, hoping soon to find shelter, so as to be able to turn off
to one side or the other, and thus to evade my pursuers. I knew that a
little way on was a lane which led directly to the village, and that if
I could once get into it I might run on without much chance of being
overtaken. I could see before me a thick hedge, through which I should
have to get into the lane. I was making my way towards it, when down I
came into a deep ditch or watercourse, the existence of