The noise which produced this effect upon the officers, had also been heard by another person, who was keeping his solitary watch on the low shore, three or four hundred yards from the village; and to him it was a pleasant sound. He had been on the look-out there for nearly two hours; and no sight had he seen, nor sound had he heard, but the water coming up as the tide made, and every now and then driving him further back to avoid the ripple of the wave. Two or three minutes after, a step could be distinguished; and some one gave a whistle. The watcher whistled in return; and the next instant he was joined by another person, somewhat taller than himself, who inquired, "Have you heard anything of them yet?" "No, sir," answered the man, in a respectful tone. "Everything has been as still and as sleepy as an old woman's cat." "Then what the devil's the meaning of these fires all over the country?" asked young Radford; for he it was who had come down. "Fires, sir?" said the man. "Why they were to light one upon Tolsford Hill, when Harding sent up the rockets; but I have heard of none but that, and have seen none at all." "Why, they are blazing all over the country," cried young Radford, from Tolsford to Dungeness. "If it's any of our people that have done it, they must be mad." "Well, if they have lighted the one at Tolsford,"' answered the man, "we shall soon have Tom Hazlewood down to tell us more; for he was to set off and gallop as fast as possible, whenever he saw anything." Young Radford made no reply, but stood musing in silence for two or three minutes; and then starting, he exclaimed, "Hark! wasn't that a cheer from the sea?" "I didn't hear it," answered the man; "but I thought I heard some one riding." Young Radford listened; but all seemed still for a moment, till, coming upon harder ground, a horse's feet sounded distinctly. "Tom Hazlewood, I think," cried Radford. "Run up, and see, Bill!" "He'll come straight down here, sir," replied the man; "he knows where to find me." And almost as he spoke, a man on horseback galloped up, saying, "They must be well in shore now." "Who the devil lighted all those fires?" exclaimed young Radford. "Why they will alarm the whole country!" "I don't know, sir," answered the man on horseback; "I lighted the one at Tolsford, but I've nothing to do with the others, and don't know who lighted them." "Then you saw the rockets?" demanded the young gentleman.