nk
Sir Risdon would mind if I sent him a few fish up to the Hoze?'

"`Ay, father,' he says, `they don't want us to send them fish. My
lady's too proud!'"

Sir Risdon sighed, and the man watched him narrowly.

"It's a pity too," the latter continued, "specially as we often have so
much fish we puts it on the land."

"Er--if you would be good enough to send a little fish--of course very
fresh, Master Shackle, and a few eggs, and a little butter to the Hoze,
and let me have your bill by and by, I should be gratified."

"On'y too glad, Sir Risdon, I will.--Think any one's been telling
tales?"

"Tales?"

"'Bout us, Sir Risdon."

"About _us_!"

"You see the revenue cutter's hanging about here a deal, and it looks
bad."

"Surely no one would betray you, Master Shackle?"

"Hope not, Sir Risdon; but it's okkard. There's a three-masted lugger
coming over from Ushant, and she may be in to-night. There's some nice
thick fogs about now, and it's a quiet sea. Your cellars are quite
empty, I s'pose?"

The last remark came so quickly, that the hearer started, and made no
reply.

"You see, Sir Risdon, we might run the cargo, and stow it all up at my
place, for we've plenty o' room; but if they got an idea of it aboard
the cutter, she'd land some men somehow, and come and search me, but
they wouldn't dare to come and search you. I've got a bad character,
but you haven't."

"No, no, Master Shackle; I cannot; I will not."

"The lads could run it up the valley, and down into your cellar, Sir
Risdon," whispered the man, as if afraid that the old grey horse would
hear; "nobody would be a bit the wiser, and you'd be doing a neighbour a
good turn."

"I--I cannot, Master Shackle; it is against the law."

"Dutchman's law, not the laws of Bonnie Prince Charlie. You will, Sir
Risdon?"

"No--no, I dare not."

"And it gives a neighbour a chance to beg your acceptance of a little
drop o' real cognac, Sir Risdon--so good in case o' sickness. And a bit
of prime tay, such as would please her ladyship. Then think how
pleasant a pipe is, Sir Risdon; I've got a bit o' lovely tobacco at my
place, and a length or two of French silk."

"Master Shackle! Master Shackle!" cried the tall thin baronet
piteously, "how can you tempt a poor suffering gentleman like this?"

"Because I want to do you a bit of good, Sir Risdon, and myself too. I
tell you it's safe enough. You've only to leave your side door open,
and go to bed; t