SUMMER IN SOMERSET. 177 



are common. A well-to-do farmer who used to attend 

 Bristol market, and dispose there of large quantities 

 of stock and produce, dared not bring home the money 

 himself lest he should be robbed. He entrusted the 

 cash to his drover ; the farmer rode along the roads, the 

 drover made short cuts on foot, and arrived safely with 

 the money. This went on for years, in which time the 

 honest fellow — a mere labourer — carried some thou- 

 sands of pounds for his master, faithfully delivering every 

 shilling. He had, however, a little failing — a dangerous 

 one in those days, when the gallows was the punishment 

 for sheep-stealing. He was known to be a sheep-stealer, 

 and actually after bringing home a hundred pounds would 

 go and put his neck in danger the very same night by 

 taking a sheep. This went on for some time, people 

 shut their eyes, but at last patience was exhausted, and 

 efforts were made to catch him in the act, without 

 success. 



One night he came home in the usual manner from 

 market, delivered the cash, and went to his cottage. 

 Next day a little girl was sent on an innocent errand to 

 the cottage, with orders while she was there to look 

 sharply round and observe if there were any ashes on 

 the floor. She came back with the news that there was 

 a heap of wood ashes. Immediately a posse set out, and 

 the drover was arrested. The use of the ashes by sheep- 

 stealers was to suck up and remove stains of blood, 

 which were certain to be left in cutting up the animal. 

 Sufficient proof was found in the cottage to condemn 

 the honest thief to be hung ; great exertions were, how- 

 ever, made in his behalf ; and principally, it is supposed, 

 on account of his character for carrying large sums of 

 money untouched, he was saved. There is a story of the 

 smugglers — once notorious folk on these hills — teaching 



