, but all his
sollicitations could not prevail upon the chiefs to profit by this instance of
his good fellowship; because they considered him as a person whose assistance in
this particular it was neither just nor honourable to use.
 

                                   Chapter XX

The Governors tamper with their Pupils. Peregrine is deserted, prevailed upon to
return, and submit to Correction; sublimes his Ideas, commences Gallant, and
becomes acquainted with Miss Emily Gauntlet
 
Mean while the master, surprised and disconcerted at such an unprecedented
secession, convened all the tutors of those who were concerned in this dangerous
association, in order to concert proper measures for recalling them; and after
mature deliberation, as it was the opinion of every body, that such a number of
raw, hot-headed boys, without money, conduct, experience or plan, could not
possibly cohere for any length of time, they resolved to leave them to the
operation of their own passions; not doubting that as the first impulse
gradually weakened, they would drop off one by one, and the whole confederacy be
thus melted down. The return of the young boys justified the prognostic; but the
masters were not a little alarmed, when they understood that the rest had chosen
a general, submitted to certain regulations, and adopted a determinate design.
They resolved, nevertheless, to give them a little more scope, and waited four
and twenty hours for the effect of their forbearance; when hearing no accounts
from the deserters, they began to consider this revolt as a very serious affair;
and in pursuance of their advice and direction, the governors set out in quest
of their stray pupils.
    It was not difficult to discover the rout they had taken; such a remarkable
caravan could not pass unheeded; they got intimation of their advances from
stage to stage, and at night arrived at an inn that stood on the road, about two
miles short of the town where the adventurers had settled their head quarters.
From hence they repaired in a body to the house of a neighbouring justice, who,
in consequence of their representations, granted a warrant to apprehend and
secure the body of Thomas Pipes, as an idle vagabond and seducer of youth. Thus
authorised, they went early next morning to the town, and set up their horses at
another inn, where they remained incognito, until they had engaged the constable
with a competent number of assistants; then a person was sent to inform Mr.
Pipes, that his company was desired at the White Hart.
    Tom received this message immediately after the contribution of effects,
already mentioned; and imparted the contents to his master, who rightly judging
