ks cleared up, the crew go aft, draw a portion of their
wages, and then go ashore. They had a fine tale to relate, and it may
be taken for granted that no incident connected therewith lost any of
its flavour in the process of narration. It would appear that the
sailors got drunk and "peached" in a most grotesque way. They declared
that although much of the contraband had been disposed of, this was
only done as a blind, and that there were tons beneath the iron ore
and in the peaks and bunkers, and all over the vessel. The story
spread, and grew as it was passed along, until it became the most
colossal smuggling enterprise ever known in the country. The captain
came on board at noon on the day following the arrival, and found a
large number of Custom-house officers on board. Some were in the holds
digging vigorously at the ore with picks and shovels. Their coats
were off, and their shirt sleeves doubled up. Others were on deck
ready for action, but the chief mate prevented them going into the
forepeak, which caused both suspicion and irritation. The captain gave
them permission. Two went forth full of hope and confidence that they
were on the point of reaping their reward. They had no sooner got down
than indescribable cries for God to help them were heard. A rush was
made to see what had happened. The lights were out, and nothing was
visible. They groped their way to the peak ladder, and were nearly
dead with fright when they reached the deck. When they had
sufficiently recovered, they said that there was something in the peak
alive, which kept butting up against them. They were sure it wasn't a
man, and that it must be something evil. An Irish sailor stood close
by laughing and jeering at them, and in genuine brogue he charged them
with being haunted by their own "evil deeds."

"You had no business there," said he, "and to prove to you that I am
right I'll swear divil a thing is there in the peak but cargo gear
and other stores. I'll go down myself and face the evil one you talk
about."

And down he went, but the fright of the officers was feeble to the
Irishman's. He shrieked and flew on deck shouting, "Be God, you're
right, he's there!"

The chief mate suspected what it was, but was not keen on going down
himself or ordering any one else to do so, so the anchor light was
lowered down and shone upon the captain's pet goat. It had been long
aboard for the purpose of supplying milk to the captain and his wife.
The p