rugged front of his valet, in which also stood disclosed
his long and faithful service together with the recommendation of the
deceased commodore. Though his wrath was immediately suppressed, and his
heart torn with remorse for what he had done, his brows remained
still contracted, and darting a most ferocious regard at the intruder,
"Villain!" said he, "how dare you treat me with such disrespect?"

"Why shouldn't I lend a hand for the preservation of the ship," answered
the unruffled Pipes, "when there is more sail than ballast aboard, and
the pilot quits the helm in despair? What signifies one or two broken
voyages, so long as our timbers are strong, and our vessel in good trim?
If she loses upon one tack, mayhap she may gain upon t'other; and I'll
be d--d, if one day or other we don't fetch up our leeway. As for the
matter of provision, you have started a pretty good stock of money into
my hold, and you are welcome to hoist it up again when you wool."

Here Tom was interrupted by the arrival of Mr. Crabtree, who seeing
Peregrine with a pistol in his hand, and such wild disorder in his
looks, his head, hands, and mouth besmeared with blood, and, moreover,
smelling the gunpowder which had been burnt, actually believed he had
either committed, or was bent upon murder, and accordingly retreated
down-stairs with infinite despatch. All his speed could not convey him
without the reach of Pipes, who, overtaking him in his passage, carried
him back into his master's apartment, observing by the way, that
this was no time to sheer off, when his consort stood in need of his
assistance.

There was something so ruefully severe in the countenance of
Cadwallader, thus compelled, that, at any other time, our hero would
have laughed at his concern; but at the present there was nothing
risible in his disposition. He had, however, laid aside his pistol, and
endeavoured, though in vain, to compose his internal disturbance; for
he could not utter one syllable to the misanthrope, but stood staring
at him in silence, with a most delirious aspect. This did not tend
to dispel the dismay of his friend, who, after some recollection, "I
wonder," said he, "that you have never killed your man before. Pray how
may you have disposed of the body?" Pickle having recovered the
faculty of speech, ordered his lacquey out of the room, and, in a most
incoherent detail, made Crabtree acquainted with the perfidious conduct
of the minister.

The confidant