The morning call., 1892-05-18
SMUGGLER JOCK.

The glens which stretched between the
North and the South Tyne, lying, as they
did, outside the direct track of civilization,
were. 80 years ago and upwarc, much al
feeted by defrauderS of the revenue, and
others. who had but scsnt respect for ma
tional laws and customs. In one OF the
most secluded of these stood a small house,
which bore a somewhat dubious reputation.
Few even Of the hardy residents in the dis
trict cared to approach 1t after nighifall;
the characters of its inmates were too well
known. The very appearance Of the house
was against il. 1t was, apparently,
entirely cut off from the outside
world. No amount Of search availed
TO discover any direct entrance to its in
terror The massive dingy walls were
wholly innocent Of doOrways; but, abutting
upOn one corner of the building, stood a
diIapidated cowhouse. Ii was through this
fOrbldding entrance that the house must be
reached, II it were reached at all. Here.
after probably falling over q spitefully dis
posed long-hOrned COW, the explorer would
be sharply brought up by a hidden Of
broken crOckery, bottles and sharp frag-
nents Of tin and iron, the accumulation OF
many years. Only after q safe and FORUM
ate steerage between this Scylla and
Charybdis Of bovine malice and cottar rub
Dish could the den Of the occupant Of the
house be reached.
THIS was a single large room, In which
all the Lares and Penates were exposed TO
view at glance. The floor was composed
of clay, the tenacious clay Of the fens; not
smooth and attractive, If h0mely. but
rOugh-cast and angular as newly
macadamiZed road. The apartment b0aSted
only Of a single window, set high IN the
wall This was often stopped with tail
less coat. a wisp Of hay and sacks half
filed with rubbish. Above stretched
number OF roughly bewn beams, or rafters,
bTistin4 with sticks, faGots and brush
wood, upon which were stored the winters
supply of peats and turfs, with, perhaps,
something mOTe. The only means OF access
TO this apartment, if such 1t might be called,
was by q ladder or stee.
In the busting times Of the NapOleOnic
wars this gTueSOme castle Of desOlatlOn was
the home Of a noted smuggler named jock
6tOckoe. who was welcomed, or feared and
hated, according to the characters and call
ings of those who happened to have deal
iDgs with him. Jock was well fitted Tor his
risky life, for he was a man of heTeuiean
proportions and was possessed OF Immense
strength and resolution Of iron. He con-
Quoted a large and widely extended trade
In brandy, Hollands lsces, teas and a thou
sand and one eXciSabe commodities upon
which he should have paid duty. but did
not do so.
1t SO happened that the principal excise
man for the district died and, shortly after
ward, q 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 inscruJabe, The new
conner was not long before he heard Of Jock
StOckOe, and h6 resolved 10 bring that
worthy to book. Like a wise man, be
awaited his opportunity, well knowing that
many bird has been lost by premature
spriuging Of the trap. He had not long to
wait.
Tidings reached him, in some inexplicab,e
manner, that a valuable cargo OF spirits had
been run. and was hidden away upon Stock
oe's premises Without a moments I'M
necessary delay, the supervisor applied TO
the nearest resident magistrate fo1 search
warrant
''Let sleeping dogs lie, mon," said that
worthy. when he was fully appTised Of his
visitors eTrand. what has the honest fel-
low done to you that you should want to
harry him thus?"
DUTY demands It." replied the gauger,
pompously. His most gracious Majesty
has been robbed too long, and too bare
faeed.y, under the very noses OF his faith
fnl subjects. 1t is time that these faithless
Icons learned that the law Is stronger than
thew"
buL VINO 90 you AulUkt iHOUt VIII nave
the impudence TO serve this ?" queried tie
worthy official, who even then had some OF
Jocks brandy 10 his cellars, while bis lady
openly partook Of the smuggler's Tea.
That will l, your worship" answered
be eXciseman.
BE it So I suppose you know that jock
has sworn to brain the first revenue officer
who dares t. set foot within his doors 2"
The officer, however, was not TO be
moved by either fears or faYoTs; so the
necessary seaTch-warrant was duly made
out, and he started, alone, upon what was,
TO say the least, a dangerous eTTand. Al
though alone. however, he had taken the
pTecauii0n 10 be we'll armed, and being
really brave man, felt 10 fear as to the
consequence Of his proceedings.
On arriving at his destination he found
StOckoe sitting over a peat fire, alone, ex-
cept for the presence OF q young girl.
ThTuSting his legal document before the
eyes OF StOckOe, who. being unable to read,
knew just as little as he cared what it was
be announced his business.
The smuggler, sitting with his head rest
ing upon his hands, neither looked up nor
spoke. 1t was as if he had not heard.
Wthouta word. or interruption, from the
smuggleT, the eXclseman commenced his
search, going through his self-impOSed task
thoroughly, ike one accustomed to the
tricks and wiles of the smuggling crew. He
ransacked the room, hunted through tile
closet, delved into the oatmeal chest, pried
into the cowhouse. and found-nothing
Encouraged by Stockoe's apathy OF terror,
the man Of law inquired, What is up
theTeP pointing. as he spoke, to the loft.
Stockoe ierked his head in the direction Of
the ladder.
The exciseman climbed this, feeling elated
at bis success in bullying the redoubted
smuggier.
ut only requires little comm0n-sense,
with true courage" he said TO himself, ''and
these wild fire-eaters will become as meek
as mice. Who would have supposed that
this huge numbering fellow was coward,
with no more pluck than a schoolgirl"
COmmuning after this manner with him
self, he continued to prosecute his search.
Very soon perfect shower Of turfs and
peat, with ayalanches Of straw ana hay, de-
scended into the lower apartment
A careful investigation failed to bring to
light any OF the articles of contraband for
which he sought. Somewhat disconnected
and chagrined at the non-success which