that runs up to Garrison Point from the Nore Lightship.
This was curious, for the _Mary_ had been in the habit of going up the
Medway, and hitherto had always hove-to off Garrison Point for the
coastguard to come aboard. Her skipper excused his action by stating
that he was frightened of heaving-to as he might have carried away his
mast and gone ashore, if he had hauled up and gybed.

But it was pointed out that it was a foolish and unsafe course for the
_Mary_ to steer between the _Daedalus_ and the Grain Island, especially
as it was a dark night without any moon, and blowing very hard. But on
going aboard, the coastguard was not surprised to detect a strong
smell of gin, as if spirits had quite recently been removed from the
smack. And after making a search there was nothing found on board
except that she was in a great state of confusion. None the less it
was deemed advisable to place a couple of officers on board her to
accompany her up to Rochester. This was on the Friday night, and she
arrived at Rochester the same day.

On the Sunday it occurred to the officers to search for the spirits
which they were sure the _Mary_ had on board, so they proceeded to
that spot by the _Daedalus_ where the _Mary_ had luffed round and met
the coastguard boat. After sweeping for half-an-hour they found 115
tubs slung together to a rope in the usual manner. At each end of the
rope was an anchor, and between these anchors was a number of tubs,
and in between each pair of tubs were stones. So the _Mary_ had gone
into that little bight in order that she might throw her tubs
overboard, which would be sunk by the stones, and the two anchors
would prevent them from being drifted away by the tide. The warp, it
was thought, had been in the first instance fastened to the tub-rail
in the manner we have already described, and at the third gun the
stop-ropes were cut, and the whole cargo went with a splash into the
water, and the vessel sailed over the tubs as they sank to the muddy
bottom.

[Illustration: Methods employed by Smugglers for Anchoring tubs thrown
Overboard.]

The usual way to get these tubs up was of course by means of grapnels,
or, as they were called, "creepers." But the spot chosen by the _Mary_
was quite close to the moorings of the _Daedalus_, so that method would
only have fouled the warship's cables. Therefore the following
ingenious device was used. A large heavy rope was taken, and at each
end was attached a boat.