would have
pursued them, but Captain Levee said it was better not, as there might
be more of the gang near, and by pursuing them we might separate and
be cut off in detail.

"What shall we do with these fellows?" asked our men of Captain Levee.

"Leave them to get off how they can," replied Captain Levee. "I will
not be stopped on my journey by such a matter as this. I dare say they
don't deserve hanging more than half the people we meet. Let us push
on and get into quarters for the night. After all, Mr. Elrington,"
said Captain Levee to me, as we were setting off, "it's only a little
land privateering, and we must not be too hard upon them."

I confess, Madam, when I recalled all that I had witnessed on board of
the Revenge, that I agreed with Captain Levee, that these highwaymen
were not worse than ourselves.

No other adventure occurred during our journey, and when we arrived in
London we directed our horses' steps to a fashionable tavern in St.
Paul's, and took possession of apartments, and as Captain Levee was
well known, we were cordially greeted and well attended. The tavern
was in great repute, and resorted to by all the wits and gay men of
the day, and I soon found myself on intimate terms with a numerous set
of dashing blades, full of life and jollity, and spending their money
like princes; but it was a life of sad intemperance, and my head
ached every morning from the excess of the night before, and in our
excursions in the evenings we were continually in broils and
disturbances, and many a broken head, nay, sometimes a severe wound,
was given and received. After the first fortnight, I felt weary of
this continual dissipation, and as I was dressing a sword-cut which
Captain Levee had received in an affray, I one morning told him so.

"I agree with you," he replied, "that it is all very foolish and
discreditable, but if we live with the gay and pretty fellows, we must
do as they do. Besides, how could I get rid of my money, which burns
in my pocket, if I did not spend as much in one day as would suffice
for three weeks?"

"Still I would rather dress a wound gained in an honourable contest
with the enemy than one received in a night brawl, and I would rather
see you commanding your men in action than reeling with other
drunkards in search of a quarrel in the streets."

"I feel that it is beneath me, and I'm sure that it's beneath you. You
are a Mentor without a beard," replied Captain Levee. "But still