rged with many threats
and curses to obedience, he gave them to understand that he knew their
drift too well to trust them by themselves. "As for you, Lieutenant
Hatchway," said he, "I have been your shipmate, and know you to be a
sailor, that's enough; and as for master, I know him to be as good a man
as ever stept betwixt stem and stern, whereby, if you have anything to
say to him, I am your man, as the saying is. Here's my sapling, and I
don't value your crackers of a rope's end." This oration, the longest
that ever Pipes was known to make, he concluded with a flourish of his
cudgel, and enforced with such determined refusals to leave them, that
they found it impossible to bring the cause to mortal arbitrement at
that time, and strolled about the park in profound silence; during
which, Hatchway's indignation subsiding, he, all of a sudden, thrust out
his hand as an advance to reconciliation, which being cordially shaken
by Peregrine, a general pacification ensued; and was followed by a
consultation about the means of extricating the youth from his present
perplexity. Had his disposition been like that of most other young men,
it would have been no difficult task to overcome his difficulties; but
such was the obstinacy of his pride, that he deemed himself bound in
honour to resent the letters he had received; and instead of submitting
to the pleasure of the commodore, expected an acknowledgment from him,
without which he would listen to no terms of accommodation. "Had I been
his own son," said he, "I should have borne his reproof, and sued for
forgiveness; but knowing myself to be on the footing of an orphan, who
depends entirely upon his benevolence, I am jealous of everything that
can be construed into disrespect, and insist upon being treated with the
most punctual regard. I shall now make application to my father, who is
obliged to provide for me by the ties of nature, as well as the laws
of the land; and if he shall refuse to do me justice, I can never want
employment while men are required for his Majesty's service."

The lieutenant, alarmed at this intimation, begged he would take no new
step until he should hear from him; and that very evening set out for
the garrison, where he gave Trunnion an account of the miscarriage
of his negotiation, told him how highly Peregrine was offended at the
letter, communicated the young gentleman's sentiments and resolution,
and finally assured him that unless he should think p