 in a very disagreeable state of
suspence; casting many a rueful look over his left shoulder, (while Pipes was
absent in quest of a cat and nine tails) in expectation of being relieved by the
interposition of the lieutenant, who did not, however, appear; and Tom returning
with the instrument of correction, undressed the delinquent in a trice, and
whispering in his ear, that he was very sorry for being employed in such an
office, but durst not for his soul disobey the orders of his commander,
flourished the scourge about his head, and with admirable dexterity made such a
smarting application to the offender's back and shoulders, that the distracted
gauger performed sundry new cuts with his feet, and bellowed hideously with
pain, to the infinite satisfaction of the spectators. At length, when he was
almost flead from his rump to the nape of his neck, Hatchway, who had purposely
absented himself hitherto, appeared in the yard, and interposing in his behalf,
prevailed upon Trunnion to call off the executioner, and order the malefactor to
be released.
    The exciseman, mad with the catastrophe he had undergone, threatened to be
revenged upon his employers, by making a candid confession of the whole plot;
but the lieutenant giving him to understand, that in so doing he would bring
upon himself a prosecution for fraud, forgery and imposture, he was fain to put
up with his loss, and sneaked out of the garrison, attended with a volley of
curses discharged upon him by the commodore, who was exceedingly irritated by
the disturbance and disappointment he had undergone.
 

                                  Chapter XVII

The Commodore detects the Machinations of the Conspirators, and hires a Tutor
for Peregrine, whom he settles at Winchester School
 
This was not the last affliction he suffered from the unwearied endeavours and
inexhausted invention of his tormentors, who harrassed him with such a variety
of mischievous pranks, that he began to think all the devils in hell had
conspired against his peace; and accordingly became very serious and
contemplative on the subject.
    In the course of his meditations, when he recollected and compared the
circumstances of every mortification to which he had been lately exposed, he
could not help suspecting that some of them must have been contrived to vex him;
and as he was not ignorant of his lieutenant's disposition, nor unacquainted
with the talents of Peregrine, he resolved to observe them both for the future
with the utmost care and circumspection. This resolution, aided by the
incautious conduct of the conspirators, whom, by this time, success had rendered
heedless and indiscreet, was attended with the desired effect. He in a little
