Once or twice a day a revenue man came along the edge of the cliff, and would generally stop for a talk with Ralph.
"There was," he said, "a good deal of smuggling carried on along that part of the coast during the war; but there is not so much of it now, though no doubt a cargo is run now and then.

It does not pay as it did when the French ports were all closed, and there was not a drop of brandy to be had save that which was run by the smugglers.

Now that trade is open again there is only the duty to save, and I fancy a good many of the boats have gone out of the business.

You see, the revenue has got its agents in the French ports, and gets news from them what craft are over there loading, and what part of the coast they come from.

Along the English coast there is still a good deal of it.