"Oh, yes, he's dead enough. I saw a fellow who told me he helped to bury him in the sands at the foot of the cliff." "Then the foul fiend has brought him back to life again, for I have seen him many times; and I spoke to him this very night, and he to me. Not only so, I know him well; and I wish all the fiends had him before he had given that brave lad his death-blow." "What! Will Laud? you do not mean to say Will Laud was on the shore to-night?" "Ask Margaret Catchpole: she can tell you as much as I." Margaret returned just as this was said; and Will Simpson, perhaps as much in spite (for Margaret had upon some occasion of his rudeness given him such a specimen of her dexterity with a frying-pan, as left a memorial on his head not easily to be forgotten or forgiven) as for inquisitiveness, put this question-- "I say, Peggy, who met you upon the shore to-night, eh?" "What's that to you? A better man than you." "Perhaps a better Will, too; eh, Peggy? One who will have his will of you, too, before you die, and tame you, my dear." "Perhaps he may; and should it be so, he will make a 'will o' the wisp' of you, Simpson." "He'll be hanged first, Peggy, take my word for that. He'll not be shot, nor drowned: he's born to be hanged." "And what are you born for, you coward, that, at such a time as this, you should be quarrelling with me?" "I'm born to be his informer; and, before long, I'll have you both up before the Squire, for all this piece of work." Margaret did not like this banter; it looked as if they already knew that Will Laud was the intruder. She was somewhat less ready at her replies than usual, and felt too great a fear that she might commit herself. She tried, therefore, to turn the subject. "My master, Robin, desires me to give you some supper." "Thank your master, but I have had mine; and, but that I hoped to hear what the doctor said to the poor young man upstairs, I should long ago have been on board my boat." The greatest cowards are not easily silenced when they find themselves able to browbeat an adversary with impunity, and that adversary a woman. "Well, Margaret, if you won't tell me, I'll tell you whom you met upon the shore. You met one whom Robin says the foul fiend has raised to life again." Margaret turned very pale, and staggered to a chair. But Simpson still went on. "O Peggy, Peggy, you have a guilty face! I don't wonder at your feeling shame. You've managed to hide the smuggler, have you? If you don't take care, both you and Will Laud will come to a bad end."