her three points after we were about, or I should
have doubled him--ay, and have doubled the weight of the leathern bag
too. _Sacre nom de Dieu_," continued he, grinding his teeth, and
pulling a handful of hair out of his rough head, which could have spared
as much as Absalom used to poll--"_Que ca me fait bisquer_."

"_Bah! Laissez aller, mon ami_--sit down and take a pipe," rejoined our
captain. "This is but pettifogging work at the best: it won't pay for
the means of resistance. My lugger will be ready in May, and then I'll
see what a revenue cutter is made of. I was at Ostend last Christmas,
and saw her. By Jove, she's a beauty! She was planked above the
watermark then, and must be nearly ready for launching by this time.
I'll pass through the Race but once more; then adieu to dark nights and
south-west gales--and huzza for a row of teeth, with the will, as well
as the power, to bite. Sixteen long nines, my boy!"

"Quick returns, though, quick returns, messmate," answered Debriseau,
referring to the Cherbourg system of smuggling, which, being his own
means of livelihood, he did not like to hear disparaged.

For the benefit of those who have no objection to unite a little
information with amusement, I shall here enter into a few remarks
relative to the smuggling carried on between the port of Cherbourg and
our own coast,--premising that my readers have my entire approbation to
skip over a page or two, if they are not anxious to know anything about
these nefarious transactions.

The port of Cherbourg, from its central situation, is better adapted
than any other in France for carrying on this trade with the southern
coast of England. The nearest port to it, and at which, therefore, the
smuggling is principally carried on, is the Bill of Portland, near to
the fashionable watering-place of Weymouth.

The vessels employed in this contraband trade, of which gin is the
staple commodity, are generally small luggers or sloops, from forty to
sixty tons burthen. In fine summer weather, row-boats are occasionally
employed; but as the _run_ is only of twenty-four hours' duration, the
dark nights and south-west gales are what are chiefly depended upon.

These vessels are not armed with an intention to resist; if they are
perceived by the cruisers or revenue vessels before they arrive on the
English coast, and are pursued, they are obliged (if not able to escape,
from superior sailing) to throw over their cargo in "d