eep water," and it
is lost. The cargo is thrown overboard to avoid the penalty and
imprisonment to which it would subject the crew, as well as the
confiscation of the vessel and cargo. If they reach the English coast,
and are chased by the revenue vessels, or have notice by signals from
their agents on shore that they are discovered, and cannot land their
cargoes, they take the exact bearings and distances of several points of
land, and with heavy stones sink their tubs of spirits, which are always
strung upon a hawser like a row of beads. There the cargo is left,
until they have an opportunity of going off in boats to creep for it,
which is by dragging large hooks at the bottom until they catch the
hawser, and regain possession of their tubs. Such is the precision with
which their marks are taken, and their dexterity from continual
practice, that they seldom fail to recover their cargo. The profits of
this contraband trade are so great, that if two cargoes are lost, a
third safely landed will indemnify the owners.

I must now observe, much to the discredit of the parties who are
concerned, that this contraband trade is not carried on by individuals,
but by a company; one hundred pounds shares are taken of "_a
speculation_," the profits of which are divided yearly: and many
individuals residing on the coast, who would be thought incapable of
lending themselves to such transactions are known to be deeply
interested.

The smuggling from Havre and Ostend, etcetera, is confined to the coast
of Ireland and the northern shores of England; the cargoes are assorted
and of great value; and as the voyage and risk are greater, they are
generally fast-sailing vessels, well manned and armed, to enable them to
offer resistance, when the disparity of force is not too great on their
side.

Captain McElvina had taken up the smuggling trade between Cherbourg and
Portland to keep himself employed until a fine lugger of sixteen guns,
the command of which had been promised to him, and which was intended to
run between Havre and the coast of Ireland, should be ready; whereas
Captain Debriseau had been all his life employed in the Cherbourg trade,
and had no intention of quitting it.

"But what have you got there, Mac?" said Debriseau, pointing with his
pipe to our hero, who sat on the leathern sofa, rolled up in his uncouth
attire; "is it a bear, or a boy?"

"A boy, that I picked up from a wreck. I am thinking what I shall do
wi