128 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



don't dare. I've got the notes to keep off them 

 lands in my pocket, an' I don't dare. Ain't it a 

 nice fire ? Don't it warm a body ? Ain't it jest 

 comfortable ? I might ha' helped but fur this 'ere 

 note ; but I don't dare. Ye might get them blood- 

 hounds out arter me, bein' so tender-hearted as you 

 be. No, you jist go and have a flick at it yourself.' 



" It was never proved as Moocher set the place 

 afire, but he had the credit on it. Soon arter that 

 he catched cold through bein' out o' nights, and he 

 died. 



" Some of that crew smuggled, and they was allus 

 well primed with liquor afore starting on any of 

 their black work. The one that did most o' the 

 smugglin' was the best scollard among 'em, and 

 he'd got a nice smooth tongue on him. Night and 

 early morning mostly the smugglers come up on the 

 moor from the coast. Sometimes from Sussex way, 

 another time from Hampshire, with their pack- 

 horses, an' their tubs slung on each side on 'em. 

 Along the bottoms of the hills, in the hollers, I've 

 watched 'em come when I've hid up in the tangle. 

 There was other tracks they had, through gentry's 

 grounds as you'd little suspect. It don't do to say 



