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each side of the tree； and； stooping and applying their hands to the
soil； they bodily lifted the tree and the turf around it。 The
apple…tree now showed itself to be growing in a shallow box； with
handles for lifting at each of the four sides。 Under the site of
the tree a square hole was revealed； and an exciseman went and
looked down。
'It is all up now；' said Owlett quietly。 'And now all of ye get
down before they notice we are here； and be ready for our next move。
I had better bide here till dark； or they may take me on suspicion；
as 'tis on my ground。 I'll be with ye as soon as daylight begins to
pink in。'
'And I？' said Lizzy。
'You please look to the linch…pins and screws； then go indoors and
know nothing at all。 The chaps will do the rest。'
The ladder was replaced； and all but Owlett descended； the men
passing off one by one at the back of the church； and vanishing on
their respective errands。
Lizzy walked boldly along the street； followed closely by the
minister。
'You are going indoors； Mrs。 Newberry？' he said。
She knew from the words 'Mrs。 Newberry' that the division between
them had widened yet another degree。
'I am not going home；' she said。 'I have a little thing to do
before I go in。 Martha Sarah will get your tea。'
'O； I don't mean on that account；' said Stockdale。 'What CAN you
have to do further in this unhallowed affair？'
'Only a little；' she said。
'What is that？ I'll go with you。'
'No； I shall go by myself。 Will you please go indoors？ I shall be
there in less than an hour。'
'You are not going to run any danger； Lizzy？' said the young man；
his tenderness reasserting itself。
'None whateverworth mentioning；' answered she； and went down
towards the Cross。
Stockdale entered the garden gate； and stood behind it looking on。
The excisemen were still busy in the orchard； and at last he was
tempted to enter； and watch their proceedings。 When 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 VIITHE 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 they looked at the dairyman's cart； and
he's got none neither！ They have gone now to the blacksmith's to
get some made； but he's nowhere to be found！'
Stockdale looked at Lizzy； who blushed very slightly； and went out
of the room； followed by Martha Sarah。 But before they had got
through the passage there was a rap at the front door； and Stockdale
recognized Latimer's voice addressing Mrs。 Newberry； who had turned
back。
'For God's sake； Mrs。 Newberry； have you seen Hardman the blacksmith
up this way？ If we could get hold of him； we'd e'en a'most drag him
by the hair of his head to his anvil； where he ought to be。'
'He's an idle man； Mr。 Latimer；' said Lizzy archly。 'What do you
want him for？'
'Why； there isn't a horse in the place that has got more than three
shoes on； and some have only two。 The waggon…wheels be without
strakes； and there's no linch…pins to the carts。 What with that；
and the bother about every set of harness being out of order； we
shan't be off before nightfallupon my soul we shan't。 'Tis a
rough lot； Mrs。 Newberry； that you've got about you here； but
they'll play at this game once too often； mark my words they will！
There's not a man in the parish that don't deserve to be whipped。'
It happened that Hardman was at that moment a little further up the
lane； smoking his pipe behind a holly…bush。 When Latimer had done
speaking he went on in this direction； and Hardman； hearing the
exciseman's steps； found curiosity too strong for prudence。 He
peeped out from the bush at the very moment that Latimer's glance
was on it。 There was nothing left for him to do but to come forward
with unconcern。
'I've been looking for you for the last hour！' said Latimer with a
glare in his eye。
'Sorry to hear that；' said Hardman。 'I've been out for a stroll； to
look for more hid tubs； to deliver 'em up to Gover'ment。'
'O yes； Hardman； we know it；' said Latimer； with withering sarcasm。
'We know that you'll deliver 'em up to Gover'ment。 We know that all
the parish is helping us； and have been all day！ Now you please
walk along with me down to your shop； and kindly let me hire ye in
the king's name。'
They went down the lane together； and presently there resounded from
the smithy the ring of a hammer not very briskly swung。 However；
the carts and horses were got into some sort of travelling
condition； but it was not until after the clock had struck six； when
the muddy roads were glistening under the horizontal light of the
fading day。 The smuggled tubs were soon packed into the vehicles；
and Latimer； with three of his assistants； drove slowly out of the
village in the direction of the port of Budmouth； some considerable
number of miles distant； the other excisemen being left to watch for
the remainder of the cargo； which they knew to have been sunk
somewhere between Ringsworth and Lulstead Cove； and to unearth
Owlett； the only person clearly implicated by the discovery of the
cave。
Women and children stood at the doors as the carts； each chalked
with the Government pitchfork； passed in the increasing twilight；
and as they stood they looked at the confiscated property with a
melancholy expression that told only too plainly the relation which
they bore to the trade。
'Well； Lizzy；' said Stockdale； when the crackle of the wheels had
nearly died away。 'This is a fit finish to your adventure。 I am
truly thankful that you have got off without suspicion； and the loss
only of the liquor。 Will you sit down and let me talk to you？'
'By and by；' she said。 'But I must go out now。'
'Not to that horrid shore again？' he said blankly。
'No； not there。 I am only going to see the end of this day's
business。'
He did not answer to this； and she moved towards the door slowly； as
if waiti