"It was now broad day, but the morning being cold, a group of them were gathered round a fire in a public-house, drinking hot purl, and smoking pipes, and planning new schemes for to-morrow."

A drink that sounds revolting to me. Here's URL for a barrel of it:
http://www.stoutbillys.com/stout/recipens/(Flat)/AA16A123.htm

I found the book on microfische...

Ron Obvious, your altered ego is outed!