question was doubtless more or less followed along the entire extent of our
northern boundaries, from east to west, yet along no portions of them half
so extensively, probably, as those, of Vermont and New Hampshire, which,
from their close contiguity to Montreal and Quebec, the only importing
cities of the Canadas, afforded the most tempting facilities and the best
chances for success. Along these borders, indeed, it was for years one
almost continuous scene of wild warfare between the custom-house officers
and their assistants, and the smugglers and their abettors, both parties
carrying arms, and the smugglers, especially, going armed to the teeth. In
these skirmishes many were, at different times, killed outright; many more
were missing, even on the side of the officials, for whom dark fates were
naturally conjectured; while hundreds, on both sides, were crippled or
otherwise seriously wounded. Sometimes, when a double sleigh, or wagon,
deeply laden with smuggled goods, in charge of three or four stout and
resolute fellows aboard, who, with as many more, perhaps, of their
confederates on horseback or in light teams, before and behind, were making
their way, at full speed, with their prize, from the line to some secret
and safe depository in the interior, was suddenly beset and brought to a
stand by an equal or greater number of government officials, deeply intent
on a seizure, a most furious conflict would ensue, in which the combatants,
growing desperate for the seizure or defence of the prize, would ply their
hard yeoman fists, clubs, loaded whipstocks, or whatever was at hand, with
terrible effect, and often prolong the melee till the snow or ground was
encrimsoned with blood, and scarcely an uninjured man remained on the
ground. Sometimes the besetting officials were made prisoners, and marched
off at the cocked pistol's mouth into the deep woods, and, after being led
forward and backward through the labyrinths of the forest till bewildered
and lost, were suddenly left to find their way out as they best could,--a
feat which there was no danger of their accomplishing till long after both
the smugglers and their goods were beyond the reach of pursuers. And