But to return to Mickey. He still kept a wistful eye on the island, particularly on one little curl of blue smoke that he assured me arose from the identical cabin where the stills were at that moment being ‘fired.’
‘They’ll be sure to land it on Sunday night,’ said he, ‘as Monday is the fair. The new gauger is very sevare, I’m towld, and means to make a raid on them.’
‘Who told you that?’ I asked.
‘Oh, the divil a one; sure, I’ve been dhraming it, or something.’
‘Well, Mickey,’ said I, ‘since you’ve been so very free with your information, I don’t mind telling you that I am the “new gauger” myself, and certainly mean to put a stop to this smuggling, if possible.’
‘Oh, the saints protect us!’ piously ejaculated Mickey. ‘Bad luck to the tongue of me! I’ve been an informer all unknownst to meself; but your honour won’t betray me?’
‘Never fear. I knew already most of what you told me.’
‘Arrah! did you, now? Well, and if you want any more information about them same smugglers, sure Mickey Mehaffey’s the boy that can find it out for ye.’
I was certainly rather amused at Mickey’s sudden change of principles; and telling him to call on me next day, if he had further information to give, I put spurs to my horse and trotted in to town.
I had only been recently appointed to Ballyroughan, with special instructions to do my utmost to suppress smuggling, which was at that time very prevalent in the district. And from all the information I could gather, I came to the conclusion that the most effectual way of doing this was to intercept the landing of the goods from the island. The supply, I reasoned, would soon cease, if I succeeded in cutting off the demand.