He examined it with much care, turning it up and down, and looking at the seal very attentively. "All's right, I see; it has the private mark for haste and speed. I bless my Maker that I am no great man, or great man's fellow; and so I think no more of these passages than just to help them forward in the way of business. You are an utter stranger in these parts, I warrant ?"

Fairford answered in the affirmative.

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Ay-I never saw them make a wiser choice-I must call some one to direct you what to do-Stay, we must go to him, I believe. You are well recommended to me, friend, and doubtless trusty; otherwise you may see more than I would like to show, or am in the use of showing in the common line of business."

Saying this, he placed his lantern on the ground, beside the post of one of the empty stalls, drew up a small springbolt which secured it to the floor, and then forcing the post to one side, discovered a small trap-door. "Follow me," he said, and dived into the subterranean descent to which this secret aperture gave access.

Fairford plunged after him, not without apprehensions of more kinds than one, but still resolved to prosecute the adventure.

The descent, which was not above six feet, led to a very narrow passage, which seemed to have been constructed for the precise purpose of excluding every one who chanced to be an inch more in girth than was his conductor. A small vaulted room, of about eight feet square, received them at the end of this lane. Here Mr. Trumbull left Fairford alone, and returned for an instant, as he said, to shut his concealed trap-door.

Fairford liked not his departure, as it left him in utter darkness; besides that his breathing was much affected by a strong and stifling smell of spirits, and other articles of a savour more powerful than agreeable to the lungs. He was very glad, therefore, when he heard the returning steps of Mr. Trumbull, who, when once more by his side, opened a strong though narrow door in the wall, and con

veyed Fairford into an immense magazine of spirit-casks, and other articles of contraband trade.

There was a small light at the end of this range of well-stocked subterranean vaults, which, upon a low whistle, began to flicker and move towards them. An undefined figure, holding a dark lantern, with a light averted, approached them, whom Mr. Trumbull thus addressed: "Why were you not at worship, Job; and this Saturday at e'en ?"

"Swanston was loading the Jenny, sir; and I staid to serve out the article."

"True-a work of necessity, and in the way of business. Does the Jumping Jenny sail this tide ?”. "Ay, ay, sir; she sails for

"I did not ask you where she sailed for, Job," said the old gentleman, interrupting him. "I thank my Maker, I know nothing of their in-comings or out-goings. I sell my article fairly, and in the ordinary way of business; and I wash my hands of every thing else. But what Í wished to know is, whether the gentleman called the Laird of the Solway Lakes is on the other side of the Border even now?"

I

"Ay, ay," said Job, "the Laird is something in my own line, you know- -a little contraband or so. There is

a statute for him-But no matter; he took the Sands after the splore at the Quaker's fish-traps yonder; for he has a leal heart the Laird, and is always true to the countryside. But avast—is all snug here?"

So, saying, he suddenly turned on Alan Fairford the light side of the lantern he carried, who, by the transient gleam which it threw in passing on the man who bore it, saw a huge figure, upwards of six feet high, with a rough hairy cap on his head, and a set of features corresponding to his bulky frame. He thought also he observed pistols at his belt.

"I will answer for this gentleman," said Mr. Trumbull; "he must be brought to speech of the Laird."

"That will be kittle steering, " said the subordinate personage; "for I understood that the Laird and his folk

were no sooner on the other side than the land-sharks were on them, and some mounted lobsters from Carlisle ; and so they were obliged to split and squander. There are new brooms out to sweep the country of them, they say; for the brush was a hard one; and they say there was a lad drowned; he was not one of the Laird's

was the less matter.'

gang, so there "Peace! prithee, peace, Job Rutledge," said honest, pacific Mr. Trumbull. "I wish thou couldst remember, man, that I desire to know nothing of your roars and splores, your brooms and brushes. I dwell here among my own people; and I sell my commodity to him who comes in the way of business; and so wash my hands of all consequences, as becomes a quiet subject and an honest man. I never take payment, save in ready money."

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Ay, ay," muttered he with the lantern, "your worship, Mr. Trumbull, understands that in the way of business."

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Well, I hope you will one day know, Job," answered Mr. Trumbull,-" the comfort of a conscience void of offence, and that fears neither gauger nor collector, neither excise nor customs. The business is to pass this gentleman to Cumberland upon earnest business, and to procure him speech with the Laird of the Solway Lakes-I suppose that can be done? Now I think Nanty Ewart, if he sails with the brig this morning tide, is the man to set him forward."

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"Ay, ay, truly is he," said Job; never man knew the Border, dale and fell, pasture and plough-land, better than Nanty; and he can always bring him to the Laird, too, if you are sure the gentleman's right. But indeed that's his own look-out; for were he the best man in Scotland, and the chairman of the d-d Board to boot, and had fifty men at his back, he were as well not visit the Laird for anything but good. As for Nanty, he is word and blow, a d-d deal fiercer than Christie Nixon that they keep such a din about. I have seen them both tried, by

7 VOL. II.

Fairford now found himself called upon to say something; yet his feelings, upon finding himself thus completely in the power of a canting hypocrite, and of his retainer, who had so much the air of a determined ruffian, joined to the strong and abominable fume which they snuffed up with indifference, while it almost deprived him of respiration, combined to render utterance difficult. He stated, however, that he had no evil intentions towards the Laird, as they called him, but was only the bearer of a letter to him on particular business, from Mr. Maxwell of Sum

mertrees.

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Ay, ay," said Job, "that may be well enough; and if Mr. Trumbull is satisfied that the scrive is right, why, we will give you a cast in the Jumping Jenny this tide, and Nanty Ewart will put you on a way of finding the Laird, I warrant you."

"I may for the present return, I presume, to the inn where I have left my horse?" said Fairford.

"With pardon," replied Mr. Trumbull, "you have been ower far ben with us for that; but Job will take you to a place where you may sleep rough till he calls you. I will bring you what little baggage you can need—for those who go on such errands must not be dainty. I will myself see after your horse, for a merciful man is merciful to his beast--a matter too often forgotten in our way of business."

"Why, Master Trumbull,” replied Job, "you know that when we are chased, it's no time to shorten sail, and so the boys do ride whip and spur-" He stopped in his speech, observing the old man had vanished through the door by which he had entered-" That's always the way with old Turnpenny," he said to Fairford; "he cares for nothing of the trade but the profit—now, d--—me, if 1 don't think the fun of it is better worth while. But come along, my fine chap; I must stow you away in safety until it is time to go aboard."

CHAPTER VI.

NARRATIVE OF ALAN FAIRFORD CONTINUED.

FAIRFORD followed his gruff guide among a labyrinth of barrels and puncheons, on which he had more than once like to have broken his nose, and from thence into what, by the glimpse of the passing lantern upon a desk and writing materials, seemed to be a small office for the despatch of business. Here there appeared no exit; but the smuggler, or smuggler's ally, availing himself of a ladder, seven feet from the ground, and Fairford, still following Job, was involved in another tortuous and dark passage, which involuntarily reminded him of Peter Peebles's law-suit. At the end of this labyrinth, when he had little guess where he had been conducted, and was, according to the French phrase, totally desorienté, Job suddenly set down the lantern, and availing himself of the flame to light two candles which stood on the table, asked if Alan would choose anything to eat, recommending, at all events, a slug of brandy to keep out the night air. Fairford declined both, but inquired after his baggage.

"The old master will take care of that himself," said Job Rutledge; and drawing back in the direction in which he had entered, he vanished from the further end of the apartment, by a mode which the candles, still shedding an imperfect light, gave Alan no means of ascertaining. Thus the adventurous young lawyer was left alone in the apartment to which he had been conducted by so singular a passage.

In this condition, it was Alan's first employment to survey, with some accuracy, the place where he was; and accordingly, having trimmed the lights, he walked slowly round the apartment, examining its appearance and di