few casual inquiries. As a matter of fact, he was personally quite
inadequate to the task of searching for illicit stills in a district of
such abundant hidden recesses.

But there was a change of front when the old officer retired and a
young and energetic man succeeded him. A "new broom" is eulogized in
proverb; and Mr. Michael Bonar, being new to his district, and a man of
youth and determination, boasted that he meant to sweep away the taint
of smuggling from the neighborhood of Ardmuirland, which bore a bad
name in that respect.

The boast of the incautious gauger was repeated far and wide, and a
strong spirit of opposition was aroused. Many a wary practitioner
began to devise cunning means of concealment, and to invent traps to
catch their adversary and turn him into ridicule. Davie Forbes was not
behindhand in making remote preparations for the ganger's certain visit
to him. But it was then mid-winter, and if Bonar was the canny man
that he was said to be, there would be little fear of any attempted
search for Davie's implements and stores before spring had set in. So
the Forbes family congratulated themselves upon the security of their
airy nest, and would smile grimly when the name of Bonar was mentioned.

The gauger was, it is true, canny, but his youth made him perhaps a
trifle too venturesome. He was not unused to climbing, and had scaled
many a mountain more imposing than Ben Sguarrach; but it was not in
winter; forgetfulness of that trifling circumstance led to his
discomfiture. Ben Sguarrach was indeed no pleasant place in wintry
weather. Its open spaces were swept by icy blasts; snow often drifted
to unparalleled depths, and made the ascent dangerous to those who were
not familiar with the mountain in its more peaceful aspects.