"Nary much, sir. Young Bill Gudgeon haven't bin seen since. And the preventives have bin paying surprise visits down in the village."
"That's well. The smugglers won't have dared to remove their cargo."
"Ah! I knowed as how they'd made another run."
"How did you know that? You keep yourself to yourself, you know."
"True, sir. But old Gudgeon's chimbleys do be uncommon foul, to be sure."
"What's that to do with it?"
"Why, sir, I were thinking that's the only thing I've seed to-day. But he'll soon be leaving off fires. Be you gwine to the Hollow by the lane, sir?"
"Yes. 'Tis a little longer way round, but I don't want to meet anybody."
"True, sir. Comely will give us good notice if any one is about."
They came at length to the Hollow. Jack led the way through the trees to within a hundred yards of the tower, and searched the neighborhood thoroughly to make sure that no one was on the watch.