 able to sustain; - and I had many times
saved his reputation and posteriors, by performing his exercises at school; so
that it is not to be wondered at, if he had a particular regard for me and my
interests. The attachment of Strap, flowed from a voluntary, disinterested
inclination, which had manifested itself on many occasions in my behalf, having
once rendered me the same service as I had afforded to Gawky, by saving my life
at the risk of his own; and often fathered offences I had committed, for which
he suffered severely, rather than I should feel the weight of the punishment I
deserved. - These two champions were the more willing to engage in this
enterprize, as they intended to leave the school next day, as well as I; the
first being ordered by his father to return into the country, and the other
being bound apprentice to a barber, at a market town not far off.
    In the mean time, my uncle being informed of my master's behaviour to me,
was enraged beyond all composition, and vowed revenge so heartily, that I could
not refrain from telling him the scheme I had concerted, which he heard with
great satisfaction, at every sentence squirting out a mouthful of spittle,
tinctured with tobacco, of which he constantly chewed a large quid. - At last,
pulling up his breeches, he cried, »No, no, Z-ds! that won't do neither, --
howsomever, 'tis a bold undertaking, my lad, - that I must say, i' faith! - but
lookée, lookée, how dost propose to get clear off? - won't the enemy give chace,
my boy? - ay, ay, that he will, I warrant - and alarm the whole coast - ah! G-d
help thee, more sail than ballast, Rory. - Let me alone for that - leave the
whole to me - I'll shew him the foretop-sail, I will. - If so be that your
ship-mates are jolly boys, and won't flinch, you shall see, you shall see; egad,
I'll play him a salt-water trick - I'll bring him to the gang-way, and anoint
him with a cat and nine tails, - he shall have a round dozen doubled, my lad, he
shall - and be left lashed, to his meditations.« - We were very proud of our
associate, who immediately went to work, and prepared the instrument of his
revenge with
