ny one in the gloom of the evening. His hunger made him
very eager to reach Susan's as soon as possible. Soon after the sun had
set, therefore, he started for Keyhaven, going along by the by-paths,
and keeping himself concealed as much as possible among the trees and
brushwood. He calculated that it would be perfectly dark by the time he
got to the village, and that he might enter Susan's cottage without
being perceived. For some time, meeting no one, he became bolder, and
made his way along the lanes with less caution than he had before used.
He had just turned an angle of the road, when he saw in the distance
several persons coming towards him. He darted back, hoping that he had
not been seen, and, getting through a hedge, he lay down in a dry ditch.

Though perfectly concealed, he was almost afraid to breathe, lest he
might be heard by the people passing. They had been too far off when
first seen to enable him to ascertain who they were, and he dared not
look through the hedge, lest they should perceive him. His heart beat
quickly as he heard their footsteps approaching; he felt like a criminal
escaping from justice. Though constitutionally brave, the consciousness
that he had acted wrongly in many respects made him a coward. The men
were only, as far as he could judge, labourers returning home after
their day's work. He heard them talking of the attempted run of
contraband goods, the capture of the _Nancy_ and her crew, as well as of
the number of people assisting in the landing who had been taken.

"It will go hard with some of them," observed one of the speakers;
"they'll bring it in `murder,' maybe, as two of the king's officers were
killed, if they can prove who fired the shots. Whether of not, Botany
Bay is the best they can expect, and many a year before they can see
their wives and families again."

"A reward is offered for catching the chaps who escaped," said another.

What more was said Dick could not hear; he was thankful that he had not
been seen by the men, or they would probably have detained him for the
sake of the reward. He waited until they had got some distance, and
then, creeping along the hedge, he again got into the lane, and ran on
as before, looking out ahead so that he might not come suddenly on any
other persons. Hungry and tired, he at length got close to Keyhaven.
To pass through the village without being seen would be difficult. He
heard voices, as if people were still ab