The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1851-09-23


that by the sharpened vigilance of our look -ou
certain circumstances came to light strongly
indicating that Carhaby Diaper, the owner Of
cutter-rgged fishing vessel of rather larg,
burthen living near HambIe Creek. was exten
sivey engaged in the then profitable practice O
running moonshine, demurely and industrously
as. when ashore he appeared to be, everlasting
ly mending his nets, or cobbling the bottom O
the smack's boat. He was hale, wiry fellow
this Barnaby-0ld Barnnby as he was famil
iarly called, surnames in those localities being
rarely used with wooden stodity of counten
CO VIII ich utterly deficd scrutiny fit did not si
lence suspicion. His son, who was a partner
in the cutter lived at Weston, a beautiful,
situated hamlet between Itchen and Netley.-
A yigiant watch was consequently kept upor
the movements ofthe Barnabys, father, son, and
grandson-this last q smart, precocious young
ster. l understood, of about sixteen yeas of age
by which family trio, the suspicious Btue eyed
Maid was, with occasional assistance, manned
sailed, and worked. Very rarely, indeed was
/ the BLue-eyed Maud observed to be engaged
in her ostensible occupation. She would sud
denly disappear, and as suddenly return, and
always, we soon came to notice, on the nights
when the Rose happened TO be absent from the
! Southampton waters.
We had missed her for upwards of week,
i
ger we had CHASED without success few nights
previously would attempt to run a cargo at q
spot rot far from Lymlngton, soon after mid
night. accordingly. as soon as darkness had
fallen, ran down and stood off and on, within
signal dstsnce Of the shore-men with whom I
had communicated, till dawn. in vain expecta-
ton Of the promised prize. ! strongly suspec-
ted that we had been deceived, and on rounding
Calshot Castle on our return, had no doubt Of
1t, for there, sure enough, was the Blue eyed
Maid riding lightly at anchor off Humble Creek,
and from her slight draught of water. it was
quite evident that her cargo, whatever it might
have consisted of, had been landed, or other
wise disposed OF. They had been smart with
their work, for the summer night and our alb.
sence lasted but few hours only. boarded
her, and found old Barnaby, whom know by
sig ht and his two descendants, whom / had
not before seen. busily engaged swatin the
cutters deck, and getting matters generally
into order and ship-shape. The son good
deal resembed the old man, except that his
features wore more intelligent and good -hu.
mored expression, and the boy was an active,
bold eyed, curly headed youngster, whose coun-
tenance, but for a provoking sauciness Of ex-
preston, apparently habitual to him, would
have been quite handsome. thought had
seen his face somewhere before. and he. no.
ing my name, and looked at me with smiling
but earn est curiosity. The mornings work
had saw. been thoroughly performed, and as
was 10 no humor for profitess game of cross
questions and crooked answers, l. after ex-
changing one or two cooquial courtesies, in
which had by no means the advantage, re-
turned to the Rose, more than even satisfied
that tho interesting family had left required,
and would probaly repay, the closest watchful-
mes and care.
On the evening of the same day the Blue
eyed .ucid again vanished; fortnight slipped
by. and she had not re appeard, when the Rose
having slightly grazed her bottom in going o.
yer the shifting shinge at The northwest of the
Wight, went into Portsmouth harbor to be OK.
amined. Some of hor copper was found to be
striped off, there were other trifing damages,
and two or three days would elapse before
she could be got ready for service. The inter-
val spent with my sister. The evening after
| arrived at ltchen. Jane and visited South
ampton. and accompanied an ancient female
acquaintance resided in Bugle street-a dull.
grass grown place in those days, whatever it
may be now-to the theatre in. belive, the
same street. The performances were not over
till near twelve o'clock, and after escorting the
ladies' home, wended my way towards the
Sun Inn on the quay, where was to sleep
NY elsltT TeIlidlUlUR lot the night WltU our
friend. The weather, which had been dark
and squaly an hour or two before, was now
remarkable fine and calm; and the porter of
the inn, telling me they should not close the
house for some time longer, stroled towards
the Platform Battery. mounted by single piece
of brass ordnance overlooking the river, and
pointing menacingly towards the village of
Hy,he. The tide was at the full, and faint
breeze slightly rippled the magnificent expanse
of water which glanced and sparkled in the
bright moon and starlight of cloudless au
tumn sky. My attention was not long absorb
ed by the beauty of the scene, peerless as |
deemed it, far unless my eyes strangely de-
ceived me, the Bine-eyed Maid had returned,
and quietly anchored off Weston. She ap-
peared to have but just brought up; for the |
mainsail, three new patches in which chiefly |
enabled me to recognise her, was still tapping !
in the wind, and it appeared to me-thougb |
from the distance, and the shadow of the dark |
back ground fwoods in which she lay, it was
difficult to speak with certainty-that she was.
deeply ladies'. There was not moment to be |
lost; and Fortunately, just in the nick of time
boat with two watermen approached the plat
form stops. j rendered them guinea to put
me on board the smack. off Weston--an offer
which they eagerly accepted; and was soon
speeding over the waters to her. My uniform !
must have apprised tho Barnaoys of the ma
ture of the visit about to be paid them; for
when we were within about quarter of
mile the vessel, two figures, which | easily
recognised to be Old Barnaby and his grand
son, jumped into boat that had been loading
along side, and rowed desperately for the shore
but at point considerable iartheru up the river,
towards 1tchen. There appeared to be no one
left on board the Blue-eyed Maid, and the
shore confederates Of the smugglers did not
show themselves. coDjecturing, doubtless, as l
had calculated they would, upon my having
plenty of help within signal call. therefore
determined to capture the boat first. and return
with her to the cutter. The watermen, exited
by the chase, pulled with will. and in about
ten minutes we ran alongside the Barnabys'
boat jumped in, and found her loaded to the
gunwale with brandy kegs.
Fairly caught at last, old felowp I exclaim-