Another time, looking suddenly round, he saw
a boy standing at the edge of some boggy ground where the land dipped
suddenly away some two hundred yards from the edge of the cliff; but
directly he saw that he was observed he took to his heels, and
speedily disappeared down the valley.
Ralph did not trouble himself about these matters, nor did he see any
reason why any one should interest himself in his movements. Had he
wandered about among the hills inland he might be taken for a spy
trying to find out some of the hidden stills; but sitting here at the
edge of the cliff watching the sea, surely no such absurd suspicion
could fall upon him. Had he been there at night the smugglers might
have suspected him of keeping watch for them; but smugglers never
attempted to run their cargoes in broad daylight, and he never came
down there after dark. One day a peasant came strolling along. He was
a powerful-looking man and carried a heavy stick. Ralph was lying on
his back looking up at the clouds and did not hear the man approach
till he was close to him, then with a quick movement he sprang to his
feet.
"I did not hear you coming," he said. "You have given me quite a
start."
"It's a fine day, yer honor, for sleeping on the turf here," the man
said civilly.
"I was not asleep," Ralph said; "though I own that I was getting on
for it.
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