Peregrine
ordered him to retire, on pain of his displeasure, and swore, that
if he should offer to break open the door, he would instantly shoot
him through the head. Tom, without paying the least regard to this
injunction, set himself at work immediately. His master, exasperated
at his want of reverence and respect, which in his present paroxysm
appeared with the most provoking aggravation, flew into his closet,
and snatching up one of his pistols already loaded, no sooner saw
his valet enter the apartment, in consequence of having forced the
lock, than he presented it full at his face, and drew the trigger.
Happily the priming flashed in the pan, without communicating with
the charge; so that his furious purpose did not take effect upon
the countenance of honest Pipes, who, disregardful of the attempt,
though he knew the contents of the piece, asked, without the least
alteration of feature, if it must be foul weather through the whole
voyage.
Peregrine, mad as he was, repented of his mischievous intent
against such a faithful adherent, in the very moment of execution;
and had it proved fatal, according to the design, in all probability
he would have applied another to his own head.
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