and helped to land cargoes, and sometimes carried a bat, for fear of an accident, as the Irishman said when he took his shilelagh to the fair. I never exactly got into what you call a regular fight, but was pretty often very near it. Many a time a few of us have led the Blockademen a dance on the wrong road. If we meant to run a lot at Covehurst, we would make a show at the Priory, and pretend to be sneaking about the Rock Fair Ground, or further westward, by the Old Woman's Tap (where the Victoria Hotel is now). I have 'ticed the Government men near on to Bexhill, while our mates were running the tubs up Gensing way. If any of our mates were took, we never split on 'em. They were a true lot. Not a rat among 'em. I was never took myself, but had a narrer escape, once. That was the only time I ever felt tempted to knock a feller's brains out. Thank God I didn't ! Well, a party of us was running tubs under the East Cliff, and I was on the watch. All at once
This view is reproduced from a Water Colour and is one of the many bearing thesignature H.H., 1807. The identity of the Artist has now been discovered as Henry Hunt. It represents Ecclesbourne Valley (spelt Egglesbourne), another spot much frequented by smugglers as offering an easy means of escape. The stream shewn is still running, and from its direction it is to be assumed the view was sketched from the shore. The original Coastguard Station at Ecclesbourne was destroyed by sea, and the station has now been abandoned by the Government, and the buildings let for private dwellings.
a lieutenant and a lot of preventives jumped out of the holes in the cliff where they had been watching us. I gave the signal, and -
