people's tales. They are all bound together, all tarred with one
brush--all stuffed with a heap of lies, to send us wrong; and as for the
fishing-boats, and what they see, I have been here long enough already
to be sure that their fishing is a sham nine times in ten, and their
real business is to help those rogues. Our plan is to listen, and
pretend to be misled."

"True for you, captain," cried the ardent Donovan. "You 'bout ship as
soon as you can see them out of sight."

"My own opinion is this," said Bowler, "that we never shall catch any
fellow until we have a large sum of money placed at our disposal. The
general feeling is in their favor, and against us entirely. Why is it in
their favor? Because they are generally supposed to run great risks, and
suffer great hardships. And so they do; but not half so much as we do,
who keep the sea in all sorts of weather, while they can choose their
own. Also because they outrun the law, which nature makes everybody long
to do, and admire the lucky ones who can. But most of all because they
are free-handed, and we can be only niggards. They rob the king with
impunity, because they pay well for doing it; and he pays badly, or
not at all, to defend himself from robbery. If we had a thousand pounds
apiece, with orders to spend it on public service, take no receipt,
and give no account, I am sure that in three months we could stop all
contraband work upon this coast."

"Upon me sowl and so we could; and it's meself that would go into the
trade, so soon as it was stopped with the thousand pounds."

"We have no time for talking nonsense;" answered Nettlebones, severely,
according to the universal law that the man who has wasted the time of
others gets into a flurry about his own. "Your suggestion, Bowler, is
a very wise one, and as full as possible of common-sense. You
also, Donovan, have shown with great sagacity what might come of it
thereafter. But unluckily we have to get on as we can, without sixpence
to spare for anybody. We know that the fishermen and people on the
coast, and especially the womankind, are all to a man--as our good
friend here would say--banded in league against us. Nevertheless, this
landing shall not be, at least upon our district. What happens north of
Teesmouth is none of our business; and we should have the laugh of the
old Scotchman there, if they pay him a visit, as I hope they may; for he
cuts many jokes at our expense. But, by the Lord Harry, there