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Lord Mowbray, and see that blaze of lightwhat can it be?" They approached close to the casements, and perceived a lurid glare of fire, which, though its source was hidden from them, proceeded evidently from some large conflagration on the shore immediately beneath; for its red light gleamed far across the waves, and, mingling with the silvery moonshine, afforded a combination of colours that was perfectly magical; while the cliff, circling on either side the building, was shrouded in obscurity, or showed only its ragged outline illuminated at intervals as the flames shot upwards.

"Let us inquire what all this means," said Lord Mowbray.

"Let us go and see rather," said Colonel Pennington;" for your people will be too indolent to inquire, or perhaps some of them here may not be over-willing that you should know the truth." And so saying, they left the apartment. Lord Mowbray called to the servant usually in attendance near the door, but no answer was returned.

"The fellow is gone to see the fire, my Lord,

depend upon it," said Colonel Pennington;

but how he should have caught sight of it through that thick door, or have known it was in existence, I do not understand."

They crossed the hall, and, opening the portal, found themselves on the grassy sward white with dew, and glittering in the fresh and pure moonlight. The atmosphere towards the coast, however, appeared glowing with fire, and the Castle presented a solemn mass of shade. where opposed to it.

Lord Mowbray walked to the edge of the cliff, towards the path leading to the Chapel. Still nothing appeared to satisfy them as to the cause of the illumination, which they saw rising more strongly than ever from beneath the butting rock on which they stood. The moon afforded them light enough to guide them in their descent, and Lord Mowbray, followed by his companion, proceeded down the winding declivity.

"What can it be ?" said Lord Mowbray.

Why, I rather suspect," replied Colonel Pennington," that it is a signal to smugglers

on the coast; and if our appearance does not disturb the party, we may have an opportunity of seeing how they manage these affairs :-keep close, my Lord, to the side of the cliff, for otherwise our figures will catch the reflection from the fire."

They had already reached the platform, which stood before the entrance to the Chapel, when Lord Mowbray stopped-" I think I hear voices," he said, in a whisper.

"Hush! hush!" answered Colonel Pennington, and they stood quite still: "I also hear voices," resumed the Colonel; " and music too, or else my ears deceive me: why, the rascals have run their cargo, I suppose, and are now making merry over it: let us go and try to get a peep at them."

They stole gently down the continuation of the path; though, as the ostensible reason for its formation seemed at an end when they had reached the Chapel, it was narrower and more difficult; and then, too, Lord Mowbray's acquaintance with its turnings and windings had ceased. By the help of the flame below, how

ever, which began to illuminate the rock now very generally, they made their way well enough till, at a sudden turn, not many fathoms above the shore, they came abruptly in sight of a deep cavern on the beach; its dark recesses gleamed with torches, and at its entrance was burning the fire that had first attracted their attention from the Castle windows. Lord Mowbray started back a few paces, and, laying his finger on his lips, led Colonel Pennington to the spot.

By advancing a little, they had now a full view of what was passing within; and the Colonel, making signs to Lord Mowbray to follow his example, placed himself on his knees, and stooping down, they remained effectually concealed from observation by the rude parapet left in the rock. It would be difficult to describe the group and the scene that they witnessed; but from the mixture of foreign dresses, and the circumstance of many of the party being attired in seamen's habits, Colonel Pennington's suspicion, that it was altogether an affair of smugglers, did not appear improbable.

However, there were females in the company, and Lord Mowbray's surprise and entertainment were extreme, as he saw his man, Le Brun, with all his airs and graces, lead out a remarkably pretty girl, French apparently by her dress, and perform a minuet with her in the midst of the surrounding party: the man playing the fiddle too, though partly obscured by a projecting side of the rock, he thought was his old acquaintance, Ben Hardy; and he recollected the fellow's casuistry when he questioned him about having always earned an honest livelihood. The minuet received great applause, and a song was called for; but before this began, the liquor was served round; and Lord Mowbray's dismay was extreme, as he saw the person who officiated as steward at the Castle step forward, attended by a fellow in his own livery, bearing a reeking bowl of some hot liquor, which the steward served out to each guest in rotation, and then the song commenced; it was very easy to any one who had once heard his voice, to recognize, in the strain that followed, the powerful note of Smiling Bill; and

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