t greasing of the palm, and
called off their men to some distant place during the night of a big
run. But even when on the spot and under arms, a cavalcade of a couple
of hundred men could laugh at half-a-dozen preventives, and pass by
defiantly waving their hands and clinking the chains which held the kegs
upon their horses. The bolder cried out invitations to come and drink,
and the good-will of the leaders of the Land Free Traders was even
pushed so far that, if a Surveyor of Customs showed himself pleasantly
amenable, a dozen or more small kegs of second-rate Hollands would be
tipped before his eyes into a convenient bog, so that, if it pleased
him, he could pose before his superiors as having effected an important
capture.

The report which he was wont to edit on these occasions will often
compare with the higher fiction--as followeth:--

"Supervisor Henry Baskett, in charge of the Lower Solway district,
reports as follows under date June 30th: Found a strong body of
smugglers marching between the wild mountains called Ben Tuthor and
Blew Hills. They were of the number of three hundred, all well
mounted and armed, desperate men, evidently not of this district,
but, from their talk and accoutrement, from the Upper Ward of
Lanerickshire. Followed them carefully to note their dispositions
and discover a favourable place for attack. I had only four men with
me, whereof one a boy, being all the force under my command.
Nevertheless, at a place called the Corse of Slakes I advanced
boldly and summoned them, in the King's name and at the peril of
their lives, to surrender.

"Whereat they turned their guns upon us, each man standing behind
his horse and having his face hidden in a napkin lest he should be
known. But we four and the boy advanced firmly and with such
resolution that the band of three hundred law-breakers broke up
incontinent, and taking to flight this way and that through the
heather, left us under the necessity of pursuing. We pursued that
band which promised the best taking, and I am glad to intimate to
your Excellencies, His Majesty's Commissioners, that we were
successful in putting the said Free Traders to flight, and capturing
twenty-five casks best Hollands, six loads of Vallenceen, etc.,
etc., as per schedule appended to be accounted for by me as your
lordship's commissioners shall direct. In the hope th