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They could hear the excisemen sniffing the air like hounds as they
paced slowly along。 When they reached the spot where the tub had
burst； both stopped on the instant。
'Ay； ay； 'tis quite strong here；' said the second officer。 'Shall
we knock at the door？'
'Well； no；' said Latimer。 'Maybe this is only a trick to put us off
the scent。 They wouldn't kick up this stink anywhere near their
hiding…place。 I have known such things before。'
'Anyhow； the things； or some of 'em； must have been brought this
way；' said the other。
'Yes；' said Latimer musingly。 'Unless 'tis all done to tole us the
wrong way。 I have a mind that we go home for to…night without
saying a word； and come the first thing in the morning with more
hands。 I know they have storages about here； but we can do nothing
by this owl's light。 We will look round the parish and see if
everybody is in bed； John； and if all is quiet； we will do as I
say。'
They went on； and the two inside the window could hear them passing
leisurely through the whole village； the street of which curved
round at the bottom and entered the turnpike road at another
junction。 This way the excisemen followed； and the amble of their
horses died quite away。
'What will you do？' said Stockdale； withdrawing from his position。
She knew that he alluded to the coming search by the officers； to
divert her attention from their own tender incident by the casement；
which he wished to be passed over as a thing rather dreamt of than
done。 'O； nothing；' she replied； with as much coolness as she could
command under her disappointment at his manner。 'We often have such
storms as this。 You would not be frightened if you knew what fools
they are。 Fancy riding o' horseback through the place： of course
they will hear and see nobody while they make that noise； but they
are always afraid to get off； in case some of our fellows should
burst out upon 'em； and tie them up to the gate…post； as they have
done before now。 Good…night； Mr。 Stockdale。'
She closed the window and went to her room； where a tear fell from
her eyes； and that not because of the alertness of the riding…
officers。
CHAPTER VITHE GREAT SEARCH AT NETHER…MOYNTON
Stockdale was so excited by the events of the evening； and the
dilemma that he was placed in between conscience and love； that he
did not sleep； or even doze； but remained as broadly awake as at
noonday。 As soon as the grey light began to touch ever so faintly
the whiter objects in his bedroom he arose； dressed himself； and
went downstairs into the road。
The village was already astir。 Several of the carriers had heard
the well…known tramp of Latimer's horse while they were undressing
in the dark that night； and had already communicated with each other
and Owlett on the subject。 The only doubt seemed to be about the
safety of those tubs which had been left under the church gallery…
stairs； and after a short discussion at the corner of the mill； it
was agreed that these should be removed before it got lighter； and
hidden in the middle of a double hedge bordering the adjoining
field。 However； before anything could be carried into effect； the
footsteps of many men were heard coming down the lane from the
highway。
'Damn it； here they be；' said Owlett； who； having already drawn the
hatch and started his mill for the day； stood stolidly at the mill…
door covered with flour； as if the interest of his whole soul was
bound up in the shaking walls around him。
The two or three with whom he had been talking dispersed to their
usual work； and when the excise officers； and the formidable body of
men they had hired； reached the village cross； between the mill and
Mrs。 Newberry's house； the village wore the natural aspect of a
place beginning its morning labours。
'Now；' said Latimer to his associates； who numbered thirteen men in
all； 'what I know is that the things are somewhere in this here
place。 We have got the day before us； and 'tis hard if we can't
light upon 'em and get 'em to Budmouth Custom…house before night。
First we will try the fuel…houses； and then we'll work our way into
the chimmers； and then to the ricks and stables； and so creep round。
You have nothing but your noses to guide ye； mind； so use 'em to…day
if you never did in your lives before。'
Then the search began。 Owlett； during the early part； watched from
his mill…window； Lizzy from the door of her house； with the greatest
self…possession。 A farmer down below； who also had a share in the
run； rode about with one eye on his fields and the other on Latimer
and his myrmidons； prepared to put them off the scent if he should
be asked a question。 Stockdale； who was no smuggler at all； felt
more anxiety than the worst of them； and went about his studies with
a heavy heart； coming frequently to the door to ask Lizzy some
question or other on the consequences to her of the tubs being
found。
'The consequences；' she said quietly； 'are simply that I shall lose
'em。 As I have none in the house or garden； they can't touch me
personally。'
'But you have some in the orchard？'
'Owlett rents that of me； and he lends it to others。 So it will be
hard to say who put any tubs there if they should be found。'
There was never such a tremendous sniffing known as that which took
place in Nether…Moynton parish and its vicinity this day。 All was
done methodically； and mostly on hands and knees。 At different
hours of the day they had different plans。 From daybreak to
breakfast…time the officers used their sense of smell in a direct
and straightforward manner only； pausing nowhere but at such places
as the tubs might be supposed to be secreted in at that very moment；
pending their removal on the following night。 Among the places
tested and examined were
Hollow trees Cupboards Culverts
Potato…graves Clock…cases Hedgerows
Fuel…houses Chimney…flues Faggot…ricks
Bedrooms Rainwater…butts Haystacks
Apple…lofts Pigsties Coppers and ovens。
After breakfast they recommenced with renewed vigour； taking a new
line； that is to say； directing their attention to clothes that
might be supposed to have come in contact with the tubs in their
removal from the shore； such garments being usually tainted with the
spirit； owing to its oozing between the staves。 They now sniffed at
…
Smock…frocks Smiths' and shoemakers' aprons
Old shirts and waistcoats Knee…naps and hedging…gloves
Coats and hats Tarpaulins
Breeches and leggings Market…cloaks
Women's shawls and gowns Scarecrows
And as soon as the mid…day meal was over； they pushed their search
into places where the spirits might have been thrown away in alarm：…
Horse…ponds Mixens Sinks in yards
Stable…drains Wet ditches Road…scrapings； and
Cinder…heaps Cesspools Back…door gutters。
But still these indefatigable excisemen discovered nothing more than
the original tell…tale smell in the road opposite Lizzy's house；
which even yet had not passed off。
'I'll tell ye what it is； men；' said Latimer； about three o'clock in
the afternoon； 'we must begin over again。 Find them tubs I will。'
The men； who had been hired for the day； looked at their hands and
knees； muddy with creeping on all fours so frequently； and rubbed
their noses； as if they had almost had enough of it； for the
quantity of bad air which had passed into each one's nostril had
rendered it nearly as insensible as a flue。 However； after a
moment's hesitation； they prepared to start anew； except three；
whose power of smell had quite succumbed under the excessive wear
and tear of the day。
By this time not a male villager was to be seen in the parish。
Owlett was not at his mill； the farmers were not in their fields；
the parson was not in his garden； the smith had left his forge； and
the wheelwright's shop was silent。
'Where the divil are the folk gone？' said Latimer； waking up to the
fact of their absence； and looking round。 'I'll have 'em up for
this！ Why don't they come and help us？ There's not a man about the
place but the Method