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broad…arrows so vigorously on every vehicle and set of harness that
he came across； that it seemed as if he would chalk broad…arrows on
the very hedges and roads。 The owner of every conveyance so marked
was bound to give it up for Government purposes。 Stockdale； who had
had enough of the scene； turned indoors thoughtful and depressed。
Lizzy was already there； having come in at the back； though she had
not yet taken off her bonnet。 She looked tired； and her mood was
not much brighter than his own。 They had but little to say to each
other； and the minister went away and attempted to read； but at this
he could not succeed； and he shook the little bell for tea。
Lizzy herself brought in the tray； the girl having run off into the
village during the afternoon； too full of excitement at the
proceedings to remember her state of life。 However； almost before
the sad lovers had said anything to each other； Martha came in in a
steaming state。
'O； there's such a stoor； Mrs。 Newberry and Mr。 Stockdale！ The
king's excisemen can't get the carts ready nohow at all！ They
pulled Thomas Ballam's； and William Rogers's； and Stephen Sprake's
carts into the road； and off came the wheels； and down fell the
carts； and they found there was no linch…pins in the arms； and then
they tried Samuel Shane's waggon； and found that the screws were
gone from he； and at last they looked at the dairyman's cart； and
he's got none neither！ They have gone now to the blacksmith's to
get some made； but he's nowhere to be found！'
Stockdale looked at Lizzy； who blushed very slightly； and went out
of the room； followed by Martha Sarah。 But before they had got
through the passage there was a rap at the front door； and Stockdale
recognized Latimer's voice addressing Mrs。 Newberry； who had turned
back。
'For God's sake； Mrs。 Newberry； have you seen Hardman the blacksmith
up this way？ If we could get hold of him； we'd e'en a'most drag him
by the hair of his head to his anvil； where he ought to be。'
'He's an idle man； Mr。 Latimer；' said Lizzy archly。 'What do you
want him for？'
'Why； there isn't a horse in the place that has got more than three
shoes on； and some have only two。 The waggon…wheels be without
strakes； and there's no linch…pins to the carts。 What with that；
and the bother about every set of harness being out of order； we
shan't be off before nightfallupon my soul we shan't。 'Tis a
rough lot； Mrs。 Newberry； that you've got about you here； but
they'll play at this game once too often； mark my words they will！
There's not a man in the parish that don't deserve to be whipped。'
It happened that Hardman was at that moment a little further up the
lane； smoking his pipe behind a holly…bush。 When Latimer had done
speaking he went on in this direction； and Hardman； hearing the
exciseman's steps； found curiosity too strong for prudence。 He
peeped out from the bush at the very moment that Latimer's glance
was on it。 There was nothing left for him to do but to come forward
with unconcern。
'I've been looking for you for the last hour！' said Latimer with a
glare in his eye。
'Sorry to hear that；' said Hardman。 'I've been out for a stroll； to
look for more hid tubs； to deliver 'em up to Gover'ment。'
'O yes； Hardman； we know it；' said Latimer； with withering sarcasm。
'We know that you'll deliver 'em up to Gover'ment。 We know that all
the parish is helping us； and have been all day！ Now you please
walk along with me down to your shop； and kindly let me hire ye in
the king's name。'
They went down the lane together； and presently there resounded from
the smithy the ring of a hammer not very briskly swung。 However；
the carts and horses were got into some sort of travelling
condition； but it was not until after the clock had struck six； when
the muddy roads were glistening under the horizontal light of the
fading day。 The smuggled tubs were soon packed into the vehicles；
and Latimer； with three of his assistants； drove slowly out of the
village in the direction of the port of Budmouth； some considerable
number of miles distant； the other excisemen being left to watch for
the remainder of the cargo； which they knew to have been sunk
somewhere between Ringsworth and Lulstead Cove； and to unearth
Owlett； the only person clearly implicated by the discovery of the
cave。
Women and children stood at the doors as the carts； each chalked
with the Government pitchfork； passed in the increasing twilight；
and as they stood they looked at the confiscated property with a
melancholy expression that told only too plainly the relation which
they bore to the trade。
'Well； Lizzy；' said Stockdale； when the crackle of the wheels had
nearly died away。 'This is a fit finish to your adventure。 I am
truly thankful that you have got off without suspicion； and the loss
only of the liquor。 Will you sit down and let me talk to you？'
'By and by；' she said。 'But I must go out now。'
'Not to that horrid shore again？' he said blankly。
'No； not there。 I am only going to see the end of this day's
business。'
He did not answer to this； and she moved towards the door slowly； as
if waiting for him to say something more。
'You don't offer to come with me；' she added at last。 'I suppose
that's because you hate me after all this？'
'Can you say it； Lizzy； when you know I only want to save you from
such practices？ Come with you of course I will； if it is only to
take care of you。 But why will you go out again？'
'Because I cannot rest indoors。 Something is happening； and I must
know what。 Now； come！' And they went into the dusk together。
When they reached the turnpike…road she turned to the right； and he
soon perceived that they were following the direction of the
excisemen and their load。 He had given her his arm； and every now
and then she suddenly pulled it back； to signify that he was to halt
a moment and listen。 They had walked rather quickly along the first
quarter of a mile； and on the second or third time of standing still
she said； 'I hear them aheaddon't you？'
'Yes；' he said； 'I hear the wheels。 But what of that？'
'I only want to know if they get clear away from the neighbourhood。'
'Ah；' said he； a light breaking upon him。 'Something desperate is
to be attempted！and now I remember there was not a man about the
village when we left。'
'Hark！' she murmured。 The noise of the cartwheels had stopped； and
given place to another sort of sound。
''Tis a scuffle！' said Stockdale。 'There'll be murder！ Lizzy； let
go my arm； I am going on。 On my conscience； I must not stay here
and do nothing！'
'There'll be no murder； and not even a broken head；' she said。 'Our
men are thirty to four of them： no harm will be done at all。'
'Then there IS an attack！' exclaimed Stockdale； 'and you knew it was
to be。 Why should you side with men who break the laws like this？'
'Why should you side with men who take from country traders what
they have honestly bought wi' their own money in France？' said she
firmly。
'They are not honestly bought；' said he。
'They are；' she contradicted。 'I and Owlett and the others paid
thirty shillings for every