iles himself to the Lieutenant, and renews his
Connection with Society--Divers Plans are projected in his behalf, and
he has occasion to exhibit a remarkable Proof of Self-denial.

The captain, with reluctance, yielded the preference in this particular
to Jack, who was immediately invited to a conference, by a note
subscribed with Pickle's own hand. He was found at the prison-gate
waiting for Gauntlet, to know the issue of his negotiation. He no sooner
received this summons, than he set all his sails, and made the best of
his way to his friend's apartment; being admitted by the turnkey, in
consequence of Peregrine's request, communicated by the messenger who,
carried the billet. Pipes followed close in the wake of his shipmate;
and, in a few minutes after the note had been despatched, Peregrine and
Gauntlet heard the sound of the stump, ascending the wooden staircase
with such velocity, that they at first mistook it for the application of
drumsticks to the head of an empty barrel. This uncommon speed, however,
was attended with a misfortune; he chanced to overlook a small defect in
one of the steps, and his prop plunging into a hole, he fell backwards,
to the imminent danger of his life. Tom was luckily at his back, and
sustained him in his arms, so as that he escaped without any other
damage than the loss of his wooden leg, which was snapped in the middle,
by the weight of his body in falling; and such was his impatience, that
he would not give himself the trouble to disengage the fractured member.
Unbuckling the whole equipage in a trice, he left it sticking in the
crevice, saying, a rotten cable was not worth heaving up, and, in
this natural state of mutilation, hopped into the room with infinite
expedition.

Peregrine, taking him cordially by the hand, seated him upon one side of
his bed; and, after having made an apology for that reserve of which he
had so justly complained, asked if he could conveniently accommodate
him with the loan of twenty guineas. The lieutenant, without opening
his mouth, pulled out his purse; and Pipes, who overheard the demand,
applying the whistle to his lips, performed a loud overture, in token of
his joy. Matters being thus brought to an accommodation, our hero told
the captain, that he should be glad of his company at dinner, with their
common friend Hatchway, if he would in the meantime leave him to the
ministry of Pipes; and the soldier went away for the present, in order
to pay a