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and property； were very distressing； and many a mailing was sold to pay
for the triumphs of the cutters and gaugers； for the government was by this
time grown more eager； and the war caused the king's ships to be out and
about； which increased the trouble of the smugglers； whose wits in their
turn were thereby much sharpened。
After Mrs Malcolm； by the settlement of Captain Macadam； had given
up her dealing； two maiden women； that were sisters； Betty and Janet
Pawkie； came in among us from Ayr； where they had friends in league
with some of the laigh land folk； that carried on the contraband with the
Isle of Man； which was the very eye of the smuggling。 They took up the
tea…selling； which Mrs Malcolm had dropped； and did business on a larger
scale； having a general huxtry； with parliament…cakes； and candles； and
pincushions； as well as other groceries； in their window。 Whether they
had any contraband dealings； or were only back…bitten； I cannot take it
upon me to say； but it was jealoused in the parish that the meal in the
sacks； that came to their door at night； and was sent to the Glasgow market
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in the morning； was not made of corn。 They were； however； decent
women； both sedate and orderly； the eldest； Betty Pawkie； was of a manly
stature； and had a long beard； which made her have a coarse look； but she
was； nevertheless； a worthy； well…doing creature； and at her death she left
ten pounds to the poor of the parish； as may be seen in the mortification
board that the session put up in the kirk as a testification and an example。
Shortly after the revival of the smuggling； an exciseman was put
among us； and the first was Robin Bicker； a very civil lad that had been a
flunkey with Sir Hugh Montgomerie； when he was a residenter in
Edinburgh； before the old Sir Hugh's death。 He was a queer fellow； and
had a coothy way of getting in about folk； the which was very serviceable
to him in his vocation； nor was he overly gleg： but when a job was ill done；
and he was obliged to notice it； he would often break out on the smugglers
for being so stupid； so that for an exciseman he was wonderful well liked；
and did not object to a waught of brandy at a time； when the auld wives
ca'd it well… water。 It happened； however； that some unneighbourly
person sent him notice of a clecking of tea chests； or brandy kegs； at which
both Jenny and Betty Pawkie were the howdies。 Robin could not but
therefore enter their house； however； before going in； he just cried at the
door to somebody on the road； so as to let the twa industrious lassies hear
he was at hand。 They were not slack in closing the trance…door； and
putting stoups and stools behind it； so as to cause trouble； and give time
before any body could get in。 They then emptied their chaff…bed； and filled
the tikeing with tea； and Betty went in on the top； covering herself with the
blanket； and graining like a woman in labour。 It was thought that Robin
Bicker himself would not have been overly particular in searching the
house； considering there was a woman seemingly in the death…thraws； but
a sorner； an incomer from the east country； and that hung about the
change…house as a divor hostler； that would rather gang a day's journey in
the dark than turn a spade in day…light； came to him as he stood at the door；
and went in with him to see the sport。 Robin； for some reason； could not
bid him go away； and both Betty and Janet were sure he was in the plot
against them； indeed； it was always thought he was an informer； and no
doubt he was something not canny； for he had a down look。
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It was some time before the doorway was cleared of the stoups and
stools； and Jenny was in great concern； and flustered； as she said； for her
poor sister； who was taken with a heart…colic。 〃I'm sorry for her；〃 said
Robin； 〃but I'll be as quiet as possible；〃 and so he searched all the house；
but found nothing； at the which his companion； the divor east country
hostler； swore an oath that could not be misunderstood； so； without more
ado； but as all thought against the grain； Robin went up to sympathize with
Betty in the bed； whose groans were loud and vehement。 〃Let me feel
your pulse；〃 said Robin； and he looted down as she put forth her arm from
aneath the clothes； and laying his hand on the bed； cried； 〃Hey！ what's this？
this is a costly filling。〃 Upon which Betty jumpet up quite recovered；
and Jenny fell to the wailing and railing； while the hostler from the east
country took the bed of tea on his back； to carry it to the change…house； till
a cart was gotten to take it into the custom…house at Irville。
Betty Pawkie being thus suddenly cured； and grudging the loss of
property； took a knife in her hand； and as the divor was crossing the burn
at the stepping…stones that lead to the back of the change… house； she ran
after him and ripped up the tikeing； and sent all the tea floating away on
the burn； which was thought a brave action of Betty； and the story not a
little helped to lighten our melancholy meditations。
Robin Bicker was soon after this affair removed to another district； and
we got in his place one Mungo Argyle； who was as proud as a provost；
being come of Highland parentage。 Black was the hour he came among
my people； for he was needy and greedy； and rode on the top of his
commission。 Of all the manifold ills in the train of smuggling； surely the
excisemen are the worst； and the setting of this rabiator over us was a
severe judgment for our sins。 But he suffered for't； and peace be with
him in the grave； where the wicked cease from troubling！
Willie Malcolm； the youngest son of his mother； had by this time
learned all that Mr Lorimore； the schoolmaster； could teach； and as it was
evidenced to every body； by his mild manners and saintliness of
demeanour； that he was a chosen vessel； his mother longed to fulfil his
own wish； which was doubtless the natural working of the act of grace that
had been shed upon him； b