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Stockdale did the same； and saw the village lying like a map below
him； over which moved the figures of the excisemen； each
foreshortened to a crablike object； the crown of his hat forming a
circular disc in the centre of him。 Some of the men had turned
their heads when the young preacher's figure arose among them。
'What； Mr。 Stockdale？' said Matt Grey； in a tone of surprise。
'I'd as lief that it hadn't been；' said Jim Clarke。 'If the pa'son
should see him a trespassing here in his tower； 'twould be none the
better for we； seeing how 'a do hate chapel…members。 He'd never buy
a tub of us again； and he's as good a customer as we have got this
side o' Warm'll。'
'Where is the pa'son？' said Lizzy。
'In his house； to be sure； that he mid see nothing of what's going
onwhere all good folks ought to be； and this young man likewise。'
'Well； he has brought some news；' said Lizzy。 'They are going to
search the orchet and church； can we do anything if they should
find？'
'Yes；' said her cousin Owlett。 'That's what we've been talking o'；
and we have settled our line。 Well； be dazed！'
The exclamation was caused by his perceiving that some of the
searchers； having got into the orchard； and begun stooping and
creeping hither and thither； were pausing in the middle； where a
tree smaller than the rest was growing。 They drew closer； and bent
lower than ever upon the ground。
'O； my tubs！' said Lizzy faintly； as she peered through the parapet
at them。
'They have got 'em； 'a b'lieve；' said Owlett。
The interest in the movements of the officers was so keen that not a
single eye was looking in any other direction； but at that moment a
shout from the church beneath them attracted the attention of the
smugglers； as it did also of the party in the orchard； who sprang to
their feet and went towards the churchyard wall。 At the same time
those of the Government men who had entered the church unperceived
by the smugglers cried aloud； 'Here be some of 'em at last。'
The smugglers remained in a blank silence； uncertain whether 'some
of 'em' meant tubs or men； but again peeping cautiously over the
edge of the tower they learnt that tubs were the things descried；
and soon these fated articles were brought one by one into the
middle of the churchyard from their hiding…place under the gallery…
stairs。
'They are going to put 'em on Hinton's vault till they find the
rest！' said Lizzy hopelessly。 The excisemen had； in fact； begun to
pile up the tubs on a large stone slab which was fixed there； and
when all were brought out from the tower； two or three of the men
were left standing by them； the rest of the party again proceeding
to the orchard。
The interest of the smugglers in the next manoeuvres of their
enemies became painfully intense。 Only about thirty tubs had been
secreted in the lumber of the tower； but seventy were hidden in the
orchard； making up all that they had brought ashore as yet； the
remainder of the cargo having been tied to a sinker and dropped
overboard for another night's operations。 The excisemen； having re…
entered the orchard； acted as if they were positive that here lay
hidden the rest of the tubs； which they were determined to find
before nightfall。 They spread themselves out round the field； and
advancing on all fours as before； went anew round every apple…tree
in the enclosure。 The young tree in the middle again led them to
pause； and at length the whole company gathered there in a way which
signified that a second chain of reasoning had led to the same
results as the first。
When they had examined the sod hereabouts for some minutes； one of
the men rose； ran to a disused porch of the church where tools were
kept； and returned with the sexton's pickaxe and shovel； with which
they set to work。
'Are they really buried there？' said the minister； for the grass was
so green and uninjured that it was difficult to believe it had been
disturbed。 The smugglers were too interested to reply； and
presently they saw； to their chagrin； the officers stand several on
each side of the tree； and； stooping and applying their hands to the
soil； they bodily lifted the tree and the turf around it。 The
apple…tree now showed itself to be growing in a shallow box； with
handles for lifting at each of the four sides。 Under the site of
the tree a square hole was revealed； and an exciseman went and
looked down。
'It is all up now；' said Owlett quietly。 'And now all of ye get
down before they notice we are here； and be ready for our next move。
I had better bide here till dark； or they may take me on suspicion；
as 'tis on my ground。 I'll be with ye as soon as daylight begins to
pink in。'
'And I？' said Lizzy。
'You please look to the linch…pins and screws； then go indoors and
know nothing at all。 The chaps will do the rest。'
The ladder was replaced； and all but Owlett descended； the men
passing off one by one at the back of the church； and vanishing on
their respective errands。
Lizzy walked boldly along the street； followed closely by the
minister。
'You are going indoors； Mrs。 Newberry？' he said。
She knew from the words 'Mrs。 Newberry' that the division between
them had widened yet another degree。
'I am not going home；' she said。 'I have a little thing to do
before I go in。 Martha Sarah will get your tea。'
'O； I don't mean on that account；' said Stockdale。 'What CAN you
have to do further in this unhallowed affair？'
'Only a little；' she said。
'What is that？ I'll go with you。'
'No； I shall go by myself。 Will you please go indoors？ I shall be
there in less than an hour。'
'You are not going to run any danger； Lizzy？' said the young man；
his tenderness reasserting itself。
'None whateverworth mentioning；' answered she； and went down
towards the Cross。
Stockdale entered the garden gate； and stood behind it looking on。
The excisemen were still busy in the orchard； and at last he was
tempted to enter； and watch their proceedings。 When he came closer
he found that the secret cellar； of whose existence he had been
totally unaware； was formed by timbers placed across from side to
side about a foot under the ground； and grassed over。
The excisemen looked up at Stockdale's fair and downy countenance；
and evidently thinking him above suspicion； went on with their work
again。 As soon as all the tubs were taken out； they began tearing
up the turf； pulling out the timbers； and breaking in the sides；
till the cellar was wholly dismantled and shapeless； the apple…tree
lying with its roots high to the air。 But the hole which had in its
time held so much contraband merchandize was never completely filled
up； either then or afterwards； a depression in the greensward
marking the spot to this day。
CHAPTER VIITHE WALK TO WARM'ELL CROSS AND AFTERWARDS
As the goods had all to be carried to Budmouth that night； the
excisemen's next object was to find horses and carts for the
journey； and they went about the village for that purpose。 Latimer
strode hither and thither with a lump of chalk in his hand； marking
broad…arrows so vigorously on every vehicle and set of harness that
he came across；