 was dismayed, his Resentment was, by no Means, eradicated. For the Principle of
Ned
was wholly agreeable to the Motto of a very noble Escutcheon, and,
Nemo me impune lacessit,
was a Maxim, of whose Impropriety not Saint
Anthony,
himself, could persuade him.
All Night he lay ruminating, and brooding on Mischief in his Imagination, and, having formed the Outlines of his Plan toward Morning, he began to chuckle, and comfort himself, and exult in the Execution. He, then, revealed his Project to his Bedfellow, Mr.
James,
who was greatly tickled therewith, and promised to join in the Plot.
Full against the Portal, that opened upon the School-Room, there stood an ancient and elevated Chair, whose Form was sufficiently expressive of its Importance. Mr.
Vindex
had selected this majestic Piece of Furniture as, alone, suitable to the Dignity of his exalted Station. For he judiciously considered that, if
Thrones
and
Benches
were taken from among Men, there would be an End of all Dominion and Justice upon Earth.
Through the Centre of the Seat, of this Chair of Authority,
Ned
got Mr.
James
to drill a small Hole, not discernible, except on a very minute Scrutiny. He then provided a cylindrial Stick of about six Inches in length, to one End of which he fastened a Piece of Lead, and, in the other End he fixed the Head of a large Needle. This Needle had been a Glover's, of approved Mettle, keen, and polished, and three-square, toward the Point, for a quick and ready Penetration of tough Leather. He, next, fastened two small Chords, transversly, to the leaden Extremity of the Stick, and,
James
assisting, they turned the Chair with the Bottom upward, and tacked the four Ends of the Chords, in such a manner, as answered to the four Cardinal Points of the Compass; while the Stick remained suspended in an upright Direction, with the Point of the Needle just, so far, through the Drill, as put it upon a Level with the Surface of the Seat. Lastly, they fastened a long, and well waxed, Thread about the Middle of the Stick, and, drawing this Thread over the upper Rung, they dropped the End of it, just under
Ned
's Stool; and replaced the Seat of Learning in its former Position.
Greatly did
Ned
parade it, when, on Trial, he found that his Machine answered to a Miracle; for, the Stick being restrained from any Motion, save that
