very free
and easy manner for upwards of an hour and a half, occasionally sneering
and jeering at me, as they had been in the habit of doing for some time
past; so, as I said before, things wore on, and other customers came in,
who, though they did not belong to Hunter's gang, also passed off their
jokes upon me; for, as you perhaps know, we English are a set of low
hounds, who will always take part with the many by way of making
ourselves safe, and currying favour with the stronger side. I said
little or nothing, for my spirits had again become very low, and I was
verily scared and afraid. All of a sudden I thought of the ale which I
had drank in the morning, and of the good it did me then, so I went into
the bar, opened another bottle, took a glass, and felt better; so I took
another, and feeling better still, I went back into the kitchen, just as
Hunter and his crew were about leaving. 'Mr. Hunter,' said I, 'you and
your people will please to pay me for what you have had?' 'What do you
mean by my people?' said he, with an oath. 'Ah, what do you mean by
calling us his people?' said the clan. 'We are nobody's people;' and
then there was a pretty load of abuse, and threatening to serve me out.
'Well,' said I, 'I was perhaps wrong to call them your people, and beg
your pardon and theirs. And now you will please to pay me for what you
have had yourself, and afterwards I can settle with them.' 'I shall pay
you when I think fit,' said Hunter. 'Yes,' said the rest, 'and so shall
we. We shall pay you when we think fit.' 'I tell you what,' said
Hunter, 'I conceives I do such an old fool as you an honour when I comes
into his house and drinks his beer, and goes away without paying for it;'
and then there was a roar of laughter from everybody, and almost all said
the same thing. 'Now do you please to pay me, Mr. Hunter?' said I. 'Pay
you!' said Hunter; 'pay you! Yes, here's the pay;' and thereupon he held
out his thumb, twirling it round till it just touched my nose. I can't
tell you what I felt that moment; a kind of madhouse thrill came upon me,
and all I know is, that I bent back as far as I could, then lunging out,
struck him under the ear, sending him reeling two or three yards, when he
fell on the floor. I wish you had but seen how my company looked at me
and at each other. One or two of the clan went to raise Hunter, and get
him to fight, but it was no go; though he was not killed, he had had
enough for th