The Storyteller.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 408, 11 March 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Storyteller.

SMUGGLER JOCK.

" The Bonnie North Countrie" Tt makes my eld blood circulate more freely merely to write these words as old soldiers love to fight their battles o'er again. 80 we, of the hills and dales, live, methinks, more in the past than we do in the dreary, work-a-day present of this swirling world. The very though of the wild northern moors and glens awakens pleasant memories. To see them but once would he to love them for life. To have been born amongst their beauties ; what more could man desire than this? Every acre of their picturesque desolation is rich in stories 'of the past, and every ruinous peel-house recalls the border foray and the fierce moss trooper of other days. Through the ravines cattle-lifters hare journeyed far and wide in pursuit of their nefarious trade ; while high up the rocky hillsides silkies, goblins, broken men, outlaws and smugglers have disputed for supremacy. The glens which stretched between the north and south Tyrie lying as they did, outside the direct track of civilisation were, fifty years ago and upwards much affected by defrauders of the revenue and others who had scant respect for national law 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 district cared to approach it after nightfall ; the characters of

its inmates were too well known. The very appearance of the house was against it. It was, apparently completely cut off from the outside world. No amount of search availed to discover any direct en-

tiance to its interior. The massive dingy walla were wholly innocent of doorways; bub abutting on one corner of the building there stood a dilapidated cow-house. It was through this forbidding entrance that the house must be reached, if it were reached at all. Here, after probably falling over a spitefullydisposed long-horned cow, the explorer would be sharply brought up by a midden of broken crockery bottles, ami sharp fragments of tin and iron, the accumulation of many years. Only after a safe and fortunate steerage between the Soyna" and Uiiavyoais or Tnmmr malice and cottar rubbish could the den of the occupant of the house be reached. There was a single large room in which all the Larc6 and Penates were exposed to view at a glance. The floor was composed of clay, the tenacious clay of the fens; not smooth and auractive if homely, but rough-cast and angular as a newly macadimised road. The department boasted only of a single window, set high in the wall. This was often stopped with a tailless coat, a wisp of hay, and sacks halffilled with rubbish. Above stretched a number of roughly-hewn beams, or rafters, bristling with sticks, faggots, and brushwood, upon which were stored tha wintersupply of peats and turfs, with perhaps something more. The only means of access to this department, if such it might be called, was by a ladder or step.

In the bustling times of the Napoleonic wars this gruesome caotlc of desolation waa the home of a 'ootad Smuggler, named Jock Slocbop, who wss "'plcoaied cr feared and hated, according to the characters and callings of those who happened to have dealings with him. Jock was well-fitted for his risky life; for he was a man of herculean proportions and was possessed of immense strength and a resolution of iron. He conducted a large and widely extended trade in brandy, hollands, laces, tea, and a thousand and one excisable commodities upon which he should have paid duty, but did not do so, As imitation is the sinccrest form of flattery. Jock had many flatterers, but he had no real rivals. His emissaries with their hardy, heavily-laden shelties penetrated to the remotest boundaries of Nortbumbria and even to Durham, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Scotland itself. Thero was not a laird's dwelling, or even a lonely country farmhouse, where Jock wasnot known and into which bis " run goods " were not freely admitted. The morality of the time and country was such that the smuggler was rather regarded as a benefactor than as a criminal. At the same time his reputation for daring hardihood was so great that the most resolute ganger, thirsting for promotion feared to explore the recesses of Jock's humble home.

It so happened that the principal exciseman for the district died, and shortly afterwards a stranger was appointed to the post. This caused some disappointment among the members of the staff, who had looked for promotion all around ; but the ways of Governments are irritable. The newcomer was not long beforo he heard of Jock •Stockoe, and he resolved to bring that worthy to book like a wise man. lie awaited his opportunity well, knowing that many a bird had l>een lost by a premature springing of the trap. He had not long to wait. Tidings reached him in some inexplicable manner that a valuable of spirits had been run and

was hidden away upon Stocko'-'s I premises. Without a moment's I unnecessary delay, the supervision applied to the nearest resident Magistrate for a search warrant. ' Lit sleeping dogs lie,' said that worthy, when he was fully apprised of his visitor's errand. ' What has the honest fellow done to you that you should choose to harry him

thus ' Duty demands it/ replied the

ganger pompously. His Most Gracious Majesty has been robbed too long, and too barefacedly, under the very noses of his faithful subjects. It is time that these faithless loons learned that, the law is stronger than they,' But who, do you think now, will have the imprudence to.serve this?' queried the-worthy official who even then bad some of Jock's brandy in his ce!!:r, while his lady openly partook of the smuggler's tea. 'That will 1, your worship,' answered the exciseman. ' Bo it so, I suppose you know that Jock has sworn to brain the .first revenue officer who' dares to set foot within his doors V ' I'll even take my chance of that. Search his house this very day, I will;' ' Well, my good friend,' sighed the Magistrate, 'if you will not be advised you must even gang your ain gait. A wilful mon must have his way. But for your own sake I wish you would think better of it.' The officer however, was not to be moved by either fears orfavoursso the neoessary search warrant was duly made out, and he started upon what was, to say the least, a unevious errand. Although alone, however, he had taken the precaution to be well armed, and being really a brave man, he felt no fear as to the consequence of his proceedings. On arriving at his destination he found Stockoe sitting over a peat fire, alone, except for the presence of a young girl. Thrusting the legal document before the eyes of Stockoe who, being unable to read, kuew just as little as he cared what it was, he announced his business. The smuggler, resting with his head upon his hands, neither looked up nor spoke. It was as if be had not heard.

Without a word of intereuption from the smuggler the exciseman commenced his search, going through his self-imposed task thoroughly

like one accustomed to the tricks and viles of the smuggling crew. He ransacked the* room, bunted through the closet, delVed into mo oatmeal chest, pried into the cowhouse and found—nothing. Encouraged by Stockoe's apathy or terror the man of law next inquired : ' What is up there V pointing as he spoke to the loft. Stockoe jerked his head in the direction of the ladder. The exciseman climbed this feeling elated at his success in bullying the rodoubted smuggler. ' It only requires a little common 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 lumbering fellow was a coward, with no more pluck than a schoolgirl V Communing after this manner with himself he continued to prosecute his nearch. Very soon a perfect shower of tufts and peat, with avalanches of straw and hay, decended into the lower apartment.

A careful investigation failed to bring to light any of the arfciclos or' contraband for which he sought. Somewhat disconcerted and chagrined at the non-success which had attended his labours, he decended and prepared to depart. ' Lassie,' now said Jock Stockoe, bring me Brown Janet. The girl disappeared, only to return immediately with a large oaken sapling—a youug tree which had been twisted up by the roots and formed a weapon fit for a Samson. ' Now, you rascal !' he thundered %o the astonished disturber of his peace and quiet 'if you will even turn an honest man's house upside down you must leave it as you found it.' ' What do you mean by this outrage V stammered the exciseman us soon soon as he could regain his breath. • I mean that you will put back all this mess into our loft, or I will break every bone in your accursed body, you scounderly land rat!' The exciseman wantednotcourage. He drew a pistol, but a sudden blow with the cudgel knocked it up, and, as it exploded, the bullet lodged harmlessly in one of the rafters. The next moment the cudgel was thrust full into his face, and Stockoe, with eyes ablaze full of terrible anger, glared down upon him. ' Spare me for the sake of my wife and children !' gasped the terrified man, who expected nothing ~'lse than instant death. ' Get about your work,' growled the smuggler, expediting the other's movement with a kick. '.Put, all these things back just as you found them Quick now !'

With a heavy heart the supervisor set about the task. It was a novelty to hin, and a painful one. Like many modern critics, he had hitherto found the work of destruction more congenial than that of construction. It had been one thing for him to tumble Jock's

winter s'.ores about the ears u their owner—it was quite anothei for him to have to replace them yet it must- be done —there was nr escape. The eyes of the smuggler were upon him. So he worked on I groaning wearily the while. When ever he hesitated a shake of the club sufficed lo quicken his ungainly movements- For four mortal hours be toiled on, until every

square of turf and peat had been replaced and the last bundle of fodder had been put back again. As the final signs of litter were cleared away, Jock said ' Now, now, be seated, be sealed wi' ye !' Exhausted with his endeavours, and almost more dead than alive the disgraced supervisor complied. ' Run, girl, and bring us the other Brown Janet,' This time the little maid brought a grey hen i.e. a huge bottle of brandy. Filling two cups with the liquor, Jock tossed one off and banded the other to his visitor, who drank with evident relish. 'lt is good,' said Jock'. 'Very good of the kind and never paid duty either. Now listen, I have a word to say—then go. and see that you,never come here again. You are the only man who could say that he ever searched my house. I let you do so, and I forgive you because you are Dobbut a stranger in the parts ; but if ever you think of playing this game again, take my advice and get measured for your coffin before you leave home,' Nothing loth the revenue officer quitted the dwelling of his dangerous entertainer who was ever afterwards left to follow his free trade pursuits unmolested by the resident agents of the Government. .

The story might have ended here but it is universally and everlastingly true that the way of transgressors is hard. The evil-doer weaves the web of his own punishment.

Jock Stockoe, after having for many years maintained the sanctity of his well-worn dwelling inviolate, paid the penalty of his rashness and his crime. He was shot dead upon the Northumbeian shore in a bloody fight with the representatives of the law which he had so long and sue cessfully defied.