reer, put in practice his last effort, by firing his pistol, the noise
of which no sooner reached the ears of the affrighted painter, than
he recommended his soul to God, and roared for mercy with great
vociferation.

The republican, overjoyed at this exclamation, commanded him to yield,
and surrender his arms, on pain of immediate death; upon which he threw
away his pistols and sword, in spite of all the admonitions and even
threats of his second, who left him to his fate, and went up to his
master, stopping his nose with signs of loathing and abhorrence.

The victor, having won the spolia opima, granted him his life, on
condition that he would on his knees supplicate his pardon, acknowledge
himself inferior to his conqueror in every virtue and qualification, and
promise for the future to merit his favour by submission and respect.
These insolent terms were readily embraced by the unfortunate
challenger, who fairly owned, that he was not at all calculated for the
purposes of war, and that henceforth he would contend with no weapon
but his pencil. He begged with great humility, that Mr. Pickle would not
think the worse of his morals for this defect of courage, which was a
natural infirmity inherited from his father, and suspend his opinion of
his talents, until he should have an opportunity of contemplating the
charms of his Cleopatra, which would be finished in less than three
months.

Our hero observed, with an affected air of displeasure, that no man
could be justly condemned for being subject to the impressions of fear,
and therefore his cowardice might easily be forgiven: but there was
something so presumptuous, dishonest, and disingenuous, in arrogating
a quality to which he knew he had not the smallest pretension, that
he could not forget his misbehaviour all at once, though he would
condescend to communicate with him as formerly, in hopes of seeking
a reformation in his conduct. Pallet protested, that there was no
dissimulation in the case; for he was ignorant of his own weakness,
until his resolution was put to the trial: he faithfully promised
to demean himself, during the remaining part of the tour, with that
conscious modesty and penitence which became a person in his condition;
and, for the present, implored the assistance of Mr. Pipes, in
disembarrassing him from the disagreeable consequence of his fear.

CHAPTER LXIV.

The Doctor exults in his Victory--They set out for Rotterdam, where they