continued to ejaculate
unconnected oaths; which, however, seemed to imply that he was almost
sick of his new profession. "D--n my eyes, if you call this--start my
timbers, brother--look ye, d'ye see--a lousy, lubberly, cowardly son of
a--among the breakers, d'ye see--lost my steerage way--split my binnacle;
bawl away--O! d--n all arrantry--give me a tight vessel, d'ye see,
brother--mayhap you may n't--snatch my--sea-room and a spanking gale--
odds heart, I'll hold a whole year's--smite my limbs; it don't signify
talking."

Our hero consoled the novice for his disaster, by observing that if he
had got some blows he had lost no honour. At the same time he observed,
that it was very difficult, if not impossible, for a man to succeed in
the paths of chivalry, who had passed the better part of his days in
other occupations, and hinted that, as the cause which had engaged him in
this way of life no longer existed, he was determined to relinquish a
profession which, in a peculiar manner, exposed him to the most
disagreeable incidents. Crowe chewed the cud upon this insinuation,
while the other personages of the drama were employed in catching the
horses, which had given their riders the slip. As for Mr. Sycamore, he
was so bruised by his fall, that it was necessary to procure a litter for
conveying him to the next town, and the servant was despatched for this
convenience, Sir Launcelot staying with him until it arrived.

When he was safely deposited in the carriage, our hero took leave of him
in these terms: "I shall not insist upon your submitting to the terms you
yourself proposed before this rencontre. I give you free leave to use
all your advantages, in an honourable way, for promoting your suit with
the young lady of whom you profess yourself enamoured. Should you have
recourse to sinister practices, you will find Sir Launcelot Greaves ready
to demand an account of your conduct, not in the character of a lunatic
knight-errant, but as a plain English gentleman, jealous of his honour,
and resolute in his purpose."

To this address Mr. Sycamore made no reply, but with a sullen aspect
ordered the carriage to proceed; and it moved accordingly to the right,
our hero's road to London lying in the other direction.

Sir Launcelot had already exchanged his armour for a riding-coat, hat,
and boots; and Crowe, parting with his skull-cap and leathern jerkin,
regained, in some respects, the appearance of a human creature. Th