The assailants would
have persisted in their design, had the opposition been such as
they could have faced with any possibility of success; nor did they
quit their prey, before a dozen, at least, had come to his rescue,
and Peregrine with a menacing aspect and air of authority, commanded
his old valet to withdraw. Then they thought proper to sheer off,
and betake themselves to close quarters, while our hero accompanied
the affrighted Cadwallader to the gate, and exhibited to the warden
a formal complaint against the rioters, upon whom he retorted the
charge of lunacy, which was supported by the evidence of twenty
persons, who had been eye-witnesses of the outrage committed against
the old gentleman. The governor, in consequence of this information,
sent a message to Mr. Hatchway, warning him to move his lodging
next day, on pain of being expelled. The lieutenant contumaciously
refusing to comply with this intimation, was in the morning, while
he amused himself in walking upon the Bare, suddenly surrounded by
the constables of the court, who took him and his adherent prisoners,
before they were aware, and delivered them into the hands of the
turnkeys, by whom they were immediately dismissed, and their baggage
conveyed to the side of the ditch.
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