After this league had taken place between judgment and execution, it chanced that Captain Dirk Hatteraick had landed a cargo of spirits and other contraband goods upon the beach not far from Ellangowan, and, confiding in the indifference with which the Laird had formerly regarded similar infractions of the law, he was neither very anxious to conceal nor to expedite the transaction.  The consequence was that Mr. Frank Kennedy, armed with a warrant from Ellangowan, and supported by some of the Laird’s people who knew the country, and by a party of military, poured down upon the kegs, bales, and bags, and after a desperate affray, in which severe wounds were given and received, succeeded in clapping the broad arrow upon the articles, and bearing them off in triumph to the next custom-house.  Dirk Hatteraick vowed, in Dutch, German, and English, a deep and full revenge, both against the gauger and his abettors; and all who knew him thought it likely he would keep his word.

A few days after the departure of the gipsy tribe, Mr. Bertram asked his lady one morning at breakfast whether this was not little Harry’s birthday.

‘Five years auld exactly, this blessed day,’ answered the lady; ‘so we may look into the English gentleman’s paper.’

Mr. Bertram liked to show his authority in trifles.  ’No, my dear, not till to-morrow.  The last time I was at quarter-sessions the sheriff told us that dies—­that dies inceptus—­in short, you don’t understand Latin, but it means that a term-day is not begun till it’s ended.’

‘That sounds like nonsense, my dear.’

’May be so, my dear; but it may be very good law for all that.  I am sure, speaking of term-days, I wish, as Frank Kennedy says, that Whitsunday would kill Martinmas and be hanged for the murder; for there I have got a letter about that interest of Jenny Cairns’s, and deil a tenant’s been at the Place yet wi’ a boddle of rent, nor will not till Candlemas.  But, speaking of Frank Kennedy, I daresay he’ll be here the day, for he was away round to Wigton to warn a king’s ship that’s lying in the bay about Dirk Hatteraick’s lugger being on the coast again, and he’ll be back this day; so we’ll have a bottle of claret and drink little Harry’s health.’

‘I wish,’ replied the lady, ’Frank Kennedy would let Dirk Hatteraick alane.  What needs he make himself mair busy than other folk?  Cannot he sing his sang, and take his drink, and draw his salary, like Collector Snail, honest man, that never fashes ony body?  And I wonder at you, Laird, for meddling and making.  Did we ever want to send for tea or brandy frae the borough-town when Dirk Hatteraick used to come quietly into the bay?’

’Mrs. Bertram, you know nothing of these matters.  Do you think it becomes a magistrate to let his own house be made a receptacle for smuggled goods?  Frank Kennedy will show you the penalties in the act, and ye ken yoursell they used to put their run goods into the Auld Place of Ellangowan up by there.’