en he came closer he found that
the secret cellar, of whose existence he had been totally unaware, was
formed by timbers placed across from side to side about a foot under the
ground, and grassed over.

The excisemen looked up at Stockdale's fair and downy countenance, and
evidently thinking him above suspicion, went on with their work again. As
soon as all the tubs were taken out, they began tearing up the turf;
pulling out the timbers, and breaking in the sides, till the cellar was
wholly dismantled and shapeless, the apple-tree lying with its roots high
to the air. But the hole which had in its time held so much contraband
merchandize was never completely filled up, either then or afterwards, a
depression in the greensward marking the spot to this day.

CHAPTER VII--THE WALK TO WARM'ELL CROSS AND AFTERWARDS

As the goods had all to be carried to Budmouth that night, the
excisemen's next object was to find horses and carts for the journey, and
they went about the village for that purpose. Latimer strode hither and
thither with a lump of chalk in his hand, marking 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