and regard, beseeching
her to favour him with an interview before his departure, that he might
indulge his fraternal fondness, and be blessed with the company and
countenance of one at least belonging to his own family. Having imparted
this discovery to his friend Hatchway, they came to a resolution of
countermining the plan of their enemies. As they did not choose to
expose themselves to the insinuations of slander, which would have
exerted itself at their expense, had they, even in defending themselves,
employed any harsh means of retaliation, they invented a method of
disappointing and disgracing their foes, and immediately set Pipes at
work to forward the preparations. Miss Pickle having described the spot
which the assassins had pitched upon for the scene of their vengeance,
our triumvirate intended to have placed a sentinel among the corn, who
should come and give them intelligence when the ambuscade was laid; and,
in consequence of that information, they would steal softly towards the
place, attended by three or four of the domestics, and draw a large
net over the conspirators, who, being entangled in the toil, should be
disarmed, fettered, heartily scourged, and suspended between two trees
in the snare, as a spectacle to all passengers that should chance to
travel that way.

The plan being thus digested, and the commodore acquainted with the
whole affair, the spy was sent upon duty, and everybody within-doors
prepared to go forth upon the first notice. One whole evening did they
spend in the most impatient expectation, but on the second the scout
crept into the garrison, and assured them that he had perceived three
men skulking behind the hedge, on the road that led to the public-house
from which Peregrine and the lieutenant used every night to return about
that hour. Upon this intelligence the confederates set out immediately
with all their implements. Approaching the scene with as little noise as
possible, they heard the sound of blows; and, though the night was
dark, perceived a sort of tumultuous conflict on the very spot which the
conspirators had possessed. Surprised at this occurrence, the meaning of
which he could not comprehend, Peregrine ordered his myrmidons to
halt and reconnoitre; and immediately his ears were saluted with an
exclamation of "You shan't 'scape me, rascal." The voice being quite
familiar to him, he at once divined the cause of that confusion which
they had observed; and running up to