11
It did not take long before Campbell’s Excisemen were infesting our glen.
“Here come the gaugers.” Father stood at the cottage door as the autumn dawn rose angry and red above the hills.
Malcolm Campbell led the unit, sitting tall on his saddle, and with four Riding Officers behind him. As befitted a scion of Satan, Campbell wore all black, with a high-crowned beaver hat on his head and his coat flapping around him as he rode up the glen.
“We could shoot them all flat,” Niall said quietly.
“And bring more trouble on ourselves,” Mother said. “Best stand back and watch them. “Do you have anything incriminating inside your house?”
Niall shook his head. “Nobody has,” he said. “Your husband has made sure of that. The clachan is clear as new-made spirits.”
We watched as the gaugers spl
