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air.’
    Tapser, however, was far from convinced. ‘What about the poteen? That wasn’t my imagination.’
    â€˜You can say that again,’ said Cowlick. ‘The smell from your breath would knock you down.’
    â€˜There you are then,’ said Tapser. ‘What did I tell you?’ He groaned and added, ‘I never realised poteen was such horrible stuff. And Mr Stockman’s right. It would drive you round the bend. I’ll never drink when I grow up, that’s for sure.’

6. THE MOUNTAINY MEN

    Because Tapser wasn’t feeling well, he didn’t have go to church next morning. Instead he slept late, and when he came down for his dinner he found that the girls had already changed into their jeans and were waiting for Peppi.
    â€˜Here, get that inside you,’ said his aunt, ‘and you’ll feel a lot better. You want to be careful and not be eating too many of them oul’ blackberries.’
    â€˜Ours would eat them until they were coming out of their ears,’ said his uncle. ‘But it doesn’t seem to do them any harm.’
    During dinner none of them said anything about what they had seen at the Castle Spa, their encounter with Peppi, or what had happened to Tapser up on the High Road. They still had a lot of finding out to do and they had promised Peppi they wouldn’t discuss what was going on with anyone else.
    True to his word, Peppi arrived shortly after dinner time, and they set off for the mountains. He had emptied the caravan, but since it was still going to be a hard pull for the horse he suggested that Tapser and Cowlick should sit on either side of him so that they could jump out and push if the going got too tough. The girls could sit just inside the door, and change places with the boys on the way back down. As for Prince, he seemed content to run alongside.
    â€˜Tapser says he saw the phantom highwayman last night,’ said Róisín.
    â€˜I did see him,’ said Tapser, and he went on to tell Peppi everything that had happened.
    â€˜And how do you feel now?’ asked Peppi.
    â€˜Okay. But the others don’t believe me.’
    â€˜We didn’t say that,’ protested Cowlick.
    â€˜You didn’t have to say it. I could see you didn’t. I don’t suppose you believe me either, Peppi?’
    â€˜I believe there’s something very peculiar going on up here. Mind you, I have been keeping a very close eye on the High Road and I haven’t seen Hugh Rua. But there are others besides yourself who say they have.’
    Cowlick told Peppi what they had seen at the Castle Spa, and wondered if the lorry Tapser had seen could have been going there.
    â€˜It could have been all right,’ said Peppi. ‘But if Max and his men are bringing poteen down by lorry, what are they bringing in by boat?’
    â€˜That’s what we were wondering,’ said Róisín.
    â€˜We thought maybe the poteen was being bottled at the Castle Spa and sold to tourists,’ said Tapser.
    â€˜I wish it was as simple as that,’ said Peppi. ‘But our men have already checked the shop and their retail sales seem to be in order. They’ve also been at the harbour keeping a close eye on their exports. They seem to be in order too. Even the shipload that left yesterday.’
    â€˜I don’t understand it,’ sighed Rachel.
    â€˜Don’t worry,’ Peppi consoled her. ‘Neither does anyone else.’ He handed the reins to Cowlick and took out his pipe and filled it. ‘You know,’ he said between puffs, ‘you’ve done very well. You’ve found out more in one night than I have since I came here. You even found me out. What made you suspicious?’
    â€˜Your gloves,’ Róisín reminded him.
    â€˜Oh aye, so you said.’
    â€˜We thought it odd that you should wear them all the time,’ explained Rachel.
    â€˜Hmmm … well, you’re right you