Evening journal., 1892-01-06
SMUGGLER JOCK.

/ The bonnie north countrien IL make
my old blood circulate more freely merel
TO write these words. AS old soldiers Low
to fight their battles DER again, so we o
the hills aud dales live, methinls, more il
the past than we do ia the workaday pres
ent Of this swirling world. The verl
| thought Of the wild northern moors anl
| glens awakens pleasant memories. TO SCI
them but once would be TO love them FOL
life To have been born amid their beau
ties-what more could man desire thar
| thisP Every acre Of their picturesque desc
| lation is rich in stories OF the past; anC
every ruinous peelhouse recalls the Dor
der foray and the fierce mosstrooper o.
other days. Through the ravines cattl,
lifters have journeyed far and wide IN pur
suit of their nefarious trade; while, hiel
up the rocky hillsides, silkies, COLLINS
! broken men, outlaws aud snugglers have
disputed for supremacy.
The glens which stretch between the
North and the South Tyne, lying, as they
did, outside the direct track Of civilization.
were, fifty years ago and upward, much
affected by defrauders Of the revenue and
others who had but scant respect for ma.
tional laws and customs. In one Of the
most secluded Of these stood a small house
which bore somewhat dubious reputa-
ton. Few even Of the hardy residents in
the district cared 10 approach it after
nightfall The characters Of its inmates
were too well known. The very appear.
ance Of the house was against it. 1t was
apparently entirely cut off from the out.
side world. No amount Of search availed
to discover any direct entrance to its in
terror
The massive, dingy walls were wholly in
nocent of doorways, but abutting upon
one corner Of the building there stood a
dilapidated cowhouse 1t was through
this forbidding entrance that the house
must be reached, IL it were reached at All.
Here, after probably falling over spite
fully disposed long horned COW, the ex-
plorer would be sharply brought up by a
hidden Of broken crockery, BOTTLES and
sharp fragments Of tin and iron, the aceu
mutation Of many years. Only after a safe
and fortunate steerage between this Scyla
and Charybdis Of bovine malice and cottar
rubbish could the den of the occupant of
the house be reached.
This was single large room, in which
all the L.ares and Penates were exposed to
view at a glance. The floor was composed
Of clay, the tenacious clay Of the fens; not
smooth and attractive, if homely, but
rough cast and angular as a newly macad-
amized road. The apartment boosted only
of single window, set high in the wall.
This was often stopped with tailess coat,
a whisp Of hay and sacks half filed with
rubbish. Above stretched a number Of
roughly hewn beams, or rafters, bristling
with sticks, faggots and brushwood, upon
which were stored the winters supply OF
peats and turfs, with, perhaps, something
more. The only means of access TO this
apartment, If such it might be called, was
by a ladder, or stee.
In the busting times Of the Napoleonio
wars this grewsome castle of desolation
was the home Of noted smuggler named
Jock Stockoe, who was welcomed, or feared
and hated, according to the characters and
callings Of those who happened to have
dealings with him. Jock was wen fitted
for his risky life, for he was a man Of her.
culean proportions and was possessed Of
immense strength and resolution Of iron.
He conducted large and widely extended
trade IN brandy, hollands. laces. teas and
a thousand and one excisable commodities
upon which be should have paid duty, but
did not do So
AS imitation is the slncerest form Of
fattery, Jock had many fatterers, but he
had no real rivals. His emissaries, with
their hardy, heavily laden shelties, pene-
trated to the remotest boundaries OF North.
umbria and even to Durham, Cumber.
land, Westmoreland and even Scotland il.
self There was not a laird's dwelling or
even a lonely country farmhouse where
Jock was not known and into which his
run goods" were not freely admitted.
The morality Of the time aud county was
such that the smuggler was rather regard.
ed as a benefactor than a criminal. At the
same time, his reputation for daring hardi.
hood was 50 great that the most resolute
gauger, thirsting for promotion, feared TO
explore the recesses Of Jocks humble
home.
II so happened that the principal excise.
man for the district died, and shortly al.
terward stranger was appointed to the
post. This caused some disappointment
among the members of the staff, who had
looked for promotion all round; but the
ways Of governments are inscrutable. The
newcomer was not there long before he
heard Of Jock Stockoe, and he resolved 70
bring that worthy to book. Like a wise
man, he awaited his opportunity, well
knowing that many bird has been lost
by premature springing Of the trap. He
had not long 10 wait.
Tidings reached him in some inexplica.
BILE manner that a valuable cargo Of spirits
had been run and was hidden away upon
Stockoe's premises. Without a moments
unnecessary delay the supervisor applied
/ to the nearest resident magistrate for 4
search warrant
Let sleeping dogs lie, mon," said that
worthy, when he was fully appraised Of his
| visitors errand. "What has the honest
fellow done to you that you should want
to harry him thusyn
DUTY demands it," replied the gauger,
| pompously. "His most gracious majesty
has been robbed too long, and too bare.
tacedly, under the very noses Of his faith.
full subjects. Il is time that these faithless
looms learned that the law is stronger than
they
But who do you think. mon. viii have