ecations upon his master, to the
astonishment of those who chanced to enter during this conference.
Having exhausted himself in these vain exclamations, he returned to his
lodgings in a most frantic condition, biting his lips so that the blood
ran from his mouth, dashing his head and fists against the sides of his
chimney, and weeping with the most bitter expressions of woe. Pipes,
whose perception had been just sufficient to let him see that there was
some difference between the present and former situation of his master,
overhearing his transports, essayed to enter his apartment, with a
view of administering consolation; and, finding the door locked on the
inside, desired admittance, protesting, that otherwise he would down
with the bulkhead in the turning of a handspike. 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. There are certain considerations that
strike upon the mind with irresistible force, even in the midst of
its distraction; the momentary recollection of some particular scene,
occasioned by the features of the devoted victim, hath often struck the
dagger from the assassin's hand. By such an impulse was Pipes protected
from any repeated effort of his master's rage; the friendly cause of his
present disobedience flashed upon the conviction of Peregrine, when he
beheld the