ignorant of the laws of the land, he would be continually
committing trespasses, and bring himself into trouble. He said, in case
he should prove refractory, he might be apprehended by virtue of a
friendly warrant, for having feloniously carried off the knight's
accoutrements. "Taking away another man's moveables," said he, "and
personal goods against the will of the owner, is furtum and felony
according to the statute. Different indeed from robbery, which implies
putting in fear in the king's highway, in alta via regia violenter et
felonice captum et asportatum, in magnum terrorem, etc.; for if the
robbery be laid in the indictment, as done in quadam via pedestri, in a
footpath, the offender will not be ousted of his clergy. It must be in
alta via regia; and your honour will please to take notice, that
robberies committed on the river Thames are adjudged as done in alta via
regia; for the king's highstream is all the same as the king's highway."

Sir Launcelot could not help smiling at Tom's learned investigation. He
congratulated him on the progress he had made in the study of the law.
He expressed his concern at the strange turn the captain had taken, and
promised to use his influence in persuading him to desist from the
preposterous design he had formed.

The lawyer, thus assured, repaired immediately to the church, accompanied
by the squire, and held a parley with his uncle, who, when he understood
that the knight in person desired a conference, surrendered up the arms
quietly, and returned to the public-house.

Sir Launcelot received the honest seaman with his usual complacency; and
perceiving great discomposure in his looks, said, he was sorry to hear he
had passed such a disagreeable night to so little purpose. Crowe, having
recruited his spirits with a bumper of brandy, thanked him for his
concern, and observed, that he had passed many a hard night in his time;
but such another as this, he would not be bound to weather for the
command of the whole British navy. "I have seen Davy Jones in the shape
of a blue flame, d'ye see, hopping to and fro on the sprit-sail yardarm;
and I've seen your Jacks o' the Lanthorn, and Wills o' the Wisp, and many
such spirits, both by sea and land. But to-night I've been boarded by
all the devils and d--ned souls in hell, squeaking and squalling, and
glimmering and glaring. Bounce went the door--crack went the pew--crash
came the tackle--white-sheeted ghosts dancing in on