THE APPRENTICE UNDER THE SHADOW. 31 



strong. He was known far and near as one of the best 

 pugilists in the whole country-side, and this accomplishment, 

 combined with a fiery temper and habits of ungovernable 

 rage, made him a dangerous enemy and a formidable 

 opponent a kind of local Hercules without his gentleman- 

 liness. Besides lashing with his tongue, swearing being 

 one of his milder accomplishments, he had thrashed with 

 his fists every one that would encounter him, except a 

 neighbouring farmer, called Smith, who, having turned the 

 tables upon him, had endeared himself to the bruiser's 

 numerous enemies. On one occasion, when in Stonehaven, 

 Pirie was not the least afraid even to face the celebrated 

 pugilist, Captain Barclay of Ury, on account of a fight 

 between their dogs. He acquitted himself in that battle so 

 successfully, that Barclay complimented him, and presented 

 him with 2 on the spot for well-nigh thrashing him ! 



Though holding the religious dignity of precentor in 

 the Episcopal chapel, he followed certain questionable 

 pursuits, not very consistent with that office amongst 

 others those of distiller and smuggler. In a loft above his 

 workshop, he " made malt ; " that is, had a secret still, known 

 to few. Under cover of the yarn and cloth that appeared 

 in his cart, he carried on a considerable trade in the spirit 

 thus produced, and also in gin, which was then landed from 

 the opposite continent on the convenient rocky shores of 

 the east coast. 



Many were the encounters Pirie had with the excise 

 officers while carrying on this illicit traffic, then, however, 

 not very uncommon, in which his formidable fists stood 

 him often in good stead. One day, when he had a large 

 quantity of the contraband concealed in his house, he took 



