Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-10-14

that I might have got a'most a bushel
of cells, only I hadn't nothin' to carry
,em away in. Lawk, there was a sight
o'ducks in these times; that there was.
All. them, was the days for the poor
folks. o'Bacca was very cheap. too,
bereabouts then. Grog, too and lace
for the ladies. bless 'emr' -eutEbst
II forgot to say that, IN his young
DAYS. Jockey had been up before the
msbristrates more than once for SNUG
Cling; and though of late years he had
maaagedto keep out OF trouble, L be
Ieve he had never very materially
changed his old creed, that if man
bonght honestly with his own money
and landed on his own responsibility,
i'm his own boateno one could reasona-
blv blame him if his views ON the ques-
ton of free trade happened to be a
trifie more advanced than those of Her
Majesty's government.
knowing what l did of the old fellow,
was amused to see him look Rowland
over, when he caught his name, IN
much the same way that superanuated
fox might bessupposed TO take stock OF
new huntsman ont for a Sunday walk
through his pet cover. The inspection
seemed to be satisfactory ON the whole.
Jockey was unusually laxative at lunch.
and when we lit Ourpipes drew the con-
vereation on to smuggling generally. :.
s'Lawk yes, sir. L have knoWd
sights of things brought ashore here
right o. the middle o. the day, scores OF
times.1 =
"How used they to manage it asked
Rowland, with an eye to business
''What were the coast-guard up to %
cCoast-guard! Layk bless yer! they
amt no good. One way was, when
there was a regatta, mayhap two or
three boats would have kind o a race
right out to a vessel they knewed and
back; and Just as some on 'em was a
rounding, there would be sight o.
things hnlled in, and. back again all of
muck sweat, with 'em all slowed snug
under sail or summit, and run the
boat right mp on to the beach; prevent
i've men, and gentlemen and ladies,
too, mayhap, looking on and screeching
and hOllering like mad; for them is al
most adjust the closest races, mayhap
the captain hisself given 'em summit to
drink his health with-Preventive cap
tains is allust regular gentlemen"
81 like your old friend Jockey" said
Rowland, as we drove home. "He is
quite a character in his way; he tells
me he has known that boat-race dodge
tried successfully often. It's worth
knowing"
"a regular old smuggler. The stories
he was telling you were personal expe-
riences, in all probability. By-the-by,
your Codlingham regatta is next week,
isn't it?"
''Yes; on Tuesday. L wish you would
come over. Do. if You have not any
thing better to do; you won't mind a
small room?"
L accepted his invitation, and we
agreed to meet in the morning at the
t'Dun Cow" a public house not far
from Rakestown, and have another day
on the sands.
When i got there, soon after the time
fixed, Rowland was waiting for me, in
state of great excitement.
''That's all right" he said, as soon as
we had shaken hands 81 am glad you
have turEed up, for I expect some fun
ey's smuggling dodge. Well, from what
hear. suspect they are going to try
it on at the regatta. / am going to or
der all the men over from Rakestown
quietly; so we will walk over to the pre-
ventive houses, if you don't mind,
first"
The weather next morning was splen-
did. Codlingham looked so gay and
with flags flying every
where, that one almost forgot the smells.
There was fresh breeze blowing, and
by one the beach was crowded with WIS.,
itors. The coast-guard was there in
unusual force. Capt. Rowland was
starter, and had always a sailor or two
with him to help; and several other ma
w uniforms were dotted among the
crowd not far away.
The programme began with sw mining
races for men and boys; then came sail |
ing and pairing matches, and-the great |
event of the day-a grand life-boat race,
with three entries.
The match which had awaked Row
lands suspicion came next. Three |
boats, two belonging to Codlingham
and one from Rakeston, were to sail |
round twenty-feet boat, which had
been lying all day couple of miles out |
to sea, and to row back again. They |
we're to be started from the top of the |
bank under the cliff, and the |
race won by the boat which was first in |
It's place again. Each was to carry four
men, and a boy to steer.
Now for the funr' said Rowland, as
the men stood in~their places ready for
4 start. ~.
1t was evident that a bold attempt
was to be made to land something; and |
was specially commissioned TO make |
al the use / could of my eyes. Ger
tainly thought ! had never seen four
men who looked more up TO bit of
OF any sort than the Rake |
stOn crew. They were all young men,
with the exception of one old white |
haired fellow with one eye, which twin
lied through its half closed. lids with |
he most comical expression of mixed |
Jun and suspicion.
'tMy men know something of that old |
Deggar," whispered Rowland, as he |
passed me just before the start. "Here,
lake my glass; / daren't use it myself. |
Now then. my men, are you ready Rl
)ne, two threep-bangl And off they |
al ratified across the shingle, amid tre-
nendous excitement. 90 81
The two Codlingham boats knocked |
over an old woman, and fouled half
way down to the sea; and the Rakeston |
men were well into their seats, with |
heir sail hoisted before either of the |
others were off the stones. They were
leading, as n early as / could see, by a /