Jolter, dismissed the boat,
notwithstanding the solicitations and condescension of the watermen.
Running a little farther in shore, they came to an anchor, and waited
till there was water enough to float them over the bar. Then they
stood into the harbour; and our gentleman, with his attendants and
baggage, were landed on the pier by the sailors, whom he liberally
rewarded for their trouble.
He was immediately plied by a great number of porters, who, like
so many hungry wolves, laid hold on his baggage, and began to carry
it off piecemeal, without his order or direction. Incensed at this
officious insolence, he commanded them to desist, with many oaths
and opprobrious terms that his anger suggested; and perceiving,
that one of them did not seem to pay any regard to what he said,
but marched off with his burthen, he snatched a cudgel out of his
lacquey's hand, and overtaking the fellow in a twinkling, brought
him to the ground with one blow. He was instantly surrounded by
the whole congregation of this canaille, who resented the injury
which their brother had sustained, and would have taken immediate
satisfaction on the aggressor, had not Pipes, seeing his master
involved, brought the whole crew to his assistance, and exerted
himself so manfully that the enemy were obliged to retreat with
many marks of defeat, and menaces of interesting the commandant in
their quarrel.
Pages:
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383