came into the little town very drunk and noisy, shouting out that it was unjust to disturb the smugglers, and singing part of a song to the same purpose, snatches of which Latimer had heard when he was in the hands of Dingrose's men. On inquiry he had little difficulty in discovering that they had been drinking in a village between Merton and Massingberd with a countryman, whom they described as a short man with light hair. Latimer knew well enough that this must be Sample. He thought that most likely he would come on to Merton to attempt to demoralise the soldiers further. He therefore went the next day round to the public-houses himself to look up his men, and as he expected, found Master Sample in one of them. He had so much against the man that he did not scruple to arrest him, but he could obtain no information from him. He replied to questions,

'Well, Captain, I will not tell nowt. I see you know summat, and have guessed a bit more. I won't tell against my friends, whatever other folk may do.' Having cautioned him that if he attempted again to tamper with his soldiers in the same way, he should not escape so easily the next time, Latimer released him, and did not even insist upon his leaving the town, as he was sure he would go to Pardox before he left, and in some way by his conduct or by his advice the sergeant would be likely to betray his own treachery.

CHAPTER XV.

HE sergeants having arrived a day or two after, Pardox was not a little surprised to find himself immediately arrested and placed under a strong guard. It may seem strange that so deep and designing a man should have left behind him such an easy clue to follow in purchasing the arsenic in Merton, but like such hypocrites he was completely deceived by himself. He was looking at his outward conduct as a soldier, and being in perfect ignorance that his connection with the smugglers was detected. He had no fears for himself in purchasing the poison. Besides which he had a natural explanation for that. The house he lived in was troubled with rats, and he had suggested to the owner that it would be desirable to lay some poison for these vermin, and offered to procure it, which offer was accepted. When, therefore, he was brought out for the examination before the officers, although pale, he was perfectly calm and collected, and to a casual observer would have been

considered a perfectly innocent man.

Brooke was

also with the officers; he and Latimer had met several times in the last few days, and had, of course, explained to each other their own circumstances since they had parted, and from Brooke, Latimer had heard that Pardox had urged the advance to be made in the disastrous attempt to release their officer, which he had already suspected. The net was, therefore, gradually enclosing the guilty man who stood before them, deprived of his side-arms, but bearing in his face the appearance and the consciousness of injured innocence. Latimer began the inquiry by abruptly asking him whether he was acquainted with a man named Sample. His firmness of manner forsook him instantly, but he recovered himself, and said he used to know a person of that name many years ago.

The next question was, 'When did you see him last?'

Which he repeated, 'When did I see him last?' 'Yes,' said Latimer; 'I want a plain answer.' 'I used to see him once-a good deal-years gone by, but when I joined the army, you see, sir, I left the country.'

Latimer simply said,

'You have not answered my question.'

'I saw him just before I enlisted.'

Latimer only replied,—

'You had better answer fully. When did you see

him last?'

'Well,' said the unfortunate man, 'I saw him a few days ago.'

'Where did you first see him when we came into Hillsland ?'

'I never saw him in Hillsland until a few days ago, since we came here.'

'Ah!' said Latimer, I understand you. Did you see him at Lingwood when the troops were quartered there?'

'I can't say, but I might have done so. Yes, I believe I did.'

'Were you not billeted to his cottage? Corporal, produce the list of the names of the villagers of Lingwood.'

The corporal gave the book, and Latimer read out among other names' Sergeant Pardox to the house of Simon Sample.'

The sergeant fidgeted with his chin and became very uneasy, and at last he said,

'I did not want to bring an old comrade into trouble.'

'Oh, he was an old comrade, was he?' said Latimer. 'And did you tell your old comrade the object of the advance of the soldiers into this district?'

The sergeant immediately replied,—

No, I did not tell him.'

Latimer was surprised at this answer, which was given with apparent candour, and having uttered it, the sergeant looked round with greater confidence, and

recovered a good deal of his natural calmness of

manner.

'Had you any reason to think he suspected the purpose of the Government ?'

'Well, sir,' after some hesitation, 'he did partly guess it.'

After he guessed it, as you say, had you any conversation with him on the subject?'

'Well, sir, I believe we did.'

Then you let him know his suspicion or guess was right?'

'Well, sir,' replied the sergeant, 'I could not tell a lie.' 'You told me a lie just now, when you said you did not tell him the object of the Government in giving me this command.'

'I did not tell him,' replied the hypocrite.

'Perhaps not in so many words, but if he guessed the truth and you assented, was not that telling him? Did you promise to give him any information about the movement of the troops?'

'Well, I did say, perhaps, I might see him, if we came up into the old country.'

'Was that all ? '

'Well, I think that was about all.'

'Did you know Sample was going up into Hillsland?'

'Yes, he told me.'

'Did he promise to give you any information about the smugglers?'

K