He was exchanged into a marching regiment, and
what became of him afterwards, Lord in heaven knows; but this I'll
say of him, whether he be dead or alive, he feared no man that ever
wore a head, and was, moreover, a very hearty messmate."
The stranger's breast glowed at this eulogium, which was no sooner
pronounced than he eagerly asked if the French ship was not the
Diligence? The commodore replied, with a stare, "The very same, my
lad."--"Then," said Gauntlet, "the person of whom you are pleased
to make such honourable mention was my own father."--"The devil he
was!" cried Trunnion, shaking him by the hand: "I am rejoiced to
see a son of Ned Guntlet in my house."
This discovery introduced a thousand questions, in the course
of which the old gentleman learned the situation of his friend's
family, and discharged innumerable execrations upon the ingratitude
and injustice of the ministry, which had failed to provide for
the son of such a brave soldier. Nor was his friendship confined
to such ineffectual expressions; he that same evening signified
to Peregrine a desire of doing something for his friend.
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