you at last, you old stinking curmudgeon? You lie,
you lousy hulk! ye lie! you did all in your power to founder me when I
was a stripling; and as for being graceless and wicked, and keeping
bad company, you tell a d--d lie again, you thief! there was not a more
peaceable lad in the county, and I kept no bad company but your own,
d'ye see. Therefore, you Trickle, or what's your name, tell the old
rascal that sent you hither, that I spit in his face, and call him
horse; that I tear his letter into rags, so; and that I trample upon
it as I would upon his own villainous carcase, d'ye see." So saying, he
danced in a sort of frenzy upon the fragments of the paper, which he
had scattered about the room, to the inexpressible satisfaction of the
triumvirate, who beheld the scene.

The exciseman having got between him and the door, which was left open
for his escape, in case of necessity, affected great confusion and
surprise at his behaviour, saying, with an air of mortification, "Lord
be merciful unto me! is this the way you treat your own relations, and
the recommendation of your best friend? Surely all gratitude and virtue
has left this sinful world! What will cousin Tim, and Dick, and Tom,
and good mother Pipkin; and her daughters cousin Sue, and Prue, and
Peg, with all the rest of our kinsfolks, say, when they hear of this
unconscionable reception that I have met with? Consider, sir, that
ingratitude is worse than the sin of witchcraft, as the Apostle wisely
observes; and do not send me away with such unchristian usage, which
will lay a heavy load of guilt upon your poor miserable soul."--"What,
you are on a cruise for a post, brother Trickle, an't ye?" said
Trunnion, interrupting him, "we shall find a post for you in a trice,
my boy. Here, Pipes, take this saucy son of a b-- and help him to the
whipping-post in the yard. I'll teach you to rouse me in the morning
with such impertinent messages."

Pipes, who wanted to carry the joke farther than the exciseman dreamt
of, laid hold of him in a twinkling, and executed the orders of his
commander, notwithstanding all his nods, winking, and significant
gestures, which the boatswain's mate would by no means understand; so
that he began to repent of the part he acted in this performance, which
was like to end so tragically; and stood fastened to the stake, in a
very disagreeable state of suspense; casting many a rueful look over his
left shoulder, while Pipes was absent in quest