The book Arran; - Cook Clan

FOLK HISTORY 135
the retort that he had faithfully stuck to what had been
cominitted to his charge.
Much more serious in its details is the story of another
prisoner, over whom hung the serious aggravation of having
badly maided an officer of excise. It was in the steamboat
days, and he was being taken to Glasgow for trial. Being
handcuffed and in a steamer he was allowed to move about,
no way of escape being apparent. But in the narrows of the
river the sympathising captain passed near and in Gaelic
whispered to the victim that he would give him a chance
if he could avail himself of it. Then the course of the boat
was shifted to near the bank, and suddenly there was a heavy
splash as the prisoner took the water and, a powerful
swimmer, struck out the short distance to the shore. To the
clamoiiring officers the captain protested that he dared not
stop his ship, and so the refugee had all the time it took to
reach the Broomielaw in which to get clear. A friendly
smith rid him of his handcuffs and, in time, he made his
way to safety in Australia.
Dan Cook in Largie Beag stood a siege in an artful
fashion. The cutter had landed a search party too soon
for Dan to get his still and material hidden out of the way,
and two men were making for his house. As usual there
was a passage-way through the house with a door at either
end, and, knowing this, a gauger made for each entry. But
each as he pushed open the door found a hay fork threatening
him, and knew from experience that whoever was behind
the weapon woxild not stop at tickling him with it. They
could not know that Cook alone was there, holding two hay-
forks tied at the butts. One gauger went off for assistance,
whereupon Dan, a big strong fellow, issued upon the other,
got him down and, with the assistance of his wife, trussed
him with a rope and deposited him in a hole in the peat-
stack. Then the compromising utensils were hurried off to
concealment in a cave on the shore.