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Updated: June 27, 2025
The feud was high between the Rockabie boys and the bright active young lad from the Den, for no further reason than has already been stated, and the dislike had increased greatly during the past year, though it had never culminated in any encounter worse than the throwing of foul missiles after the boat when it was pushed off for home.
Rockabie was a prolific place, as far as boys were concerned.
"Oh, yes, I hear that," retorted Aleck. "So you won't threaten, eh? What do you call that?" "Never you mind what I call it, youngster; and what I says I means. So now you know." "Yes," said Aleck, coolly; "now I know that what people say about you and your gang up at Eilygugg is quite true." "What do people say?" shouted the man. "What people?" "The Rockabie folk." "And what do they say?"
"Yes, uncle," said the boy, meekly. "Who with?" "Some of the Rockabie boys, uncle." "Hah! And in the face of all that I have said and taught you about your being different by your birth and education from the young ragamuffin rout of Rockabie harbour! Cannot you run over there in your boat and do what business you have to carry out without being mixed up in some broil?" "No, uncle."
As they came near they caught sight of a solitary figure down towards where the archway submerged had lain, and Aleck made put that it was a big, well-built man-o'-war's man. "Is that one of your fellows, sailor?" said Aleck, with the appellation he had used when they were prisoners together. "Yes, he came over with me from Rockabie. Capital fellow he is too. Don't you know him again?"
This fellow ill-conditioned fellow Megg was fighting against the law. He was doubtless there on some business connected with smuggling, and nearly got caught by the press-gang an institution I do not admire, but those in authority consider it a necessity for the supply of the Navy. Keep away from all these worries, and as much as possible from Rockabie and its young ruffians."
"Yes, uncle; two vessels came along into Rockabie, but I only got a glimpse of them." "Too late, eh? Well, why not run over in the boat? I want something done in the town." "Do you, uncle? Oh!" cried the boy, half wild with excitement, as he turned and rushed to the little mirror over the chimney-piece to glance in. "Yes," said the old man, smiling.
"Here, we'll go for a run to Rockabie and back, Eben; come and take the helm and show Mr Wrighton how the smugglers could run a boat close in among the rocks. You know; the same as you did that night." "Ay, ay, sir. Come along, Tom. Shall we go round to the Den gully and fetch her, sir? We could run in up the channel below here, and pick you up? Bodger says the channel's quite clear."
Then Tom began hammering and clinching the soft copper nails as if he loved his work, and as soon as the sun went down started off to trudge across the moor to Rockabie, taking his time over the task and looking as cheerful at the end as he did at the beginning of the long day.
"There, don't talk about it, Eben; only let it be a lesson to you not to go smuggling any more. Do you bear?" "Yes, sir, I hear; but this hadn't nothing to do with running a cargo or two. We was unlucky enough to be in Rockabie, and someone has sold us to the press-gang. Warn't you, were it, mate?" "Get out!" growled Tom; "is it likely?" "No.
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