d a barber's
basin, in the shallowness of the crown and narrowness of the brim. Strap
was habited in a much less awkward manner: but a short crop-eared wig,
that very much resembled Scrub's in the play, and the knapsack on his
back, added to what is called a queer phiz, occasioned by a long chin, a
hook nose, and high cheek bones, rendered him, on the whole, a very
fit subject of mirth and pleasantry. As he walked along, Strap, at
my desire, inquired of a carman, whom we met, whereabouts Mr. Cringer
lived: and was answered by a stare, accompanied with the word "Anan!"
Upon which I came up, in order to explain the question, but had the
misfortune to be unintelligible likewise, the carman damning us for a
lousy Scotch guard, whipping his horses with a "Gee ho!" which nettled
me to the quick, and roused the indignation of Strap so far that, after
the fellow was gone a good way, he told me he would fight him for a
farthing.

While we were deliberating upon what was to be done, a hackney coachman,
driving softly along, and perceiving us standing by the kennel, came up
close to us, and calling, "A coach, master!" by a dexterous management
of the reins made his horses stumble in the wet, and bedaub us all over
with mud. After which exploit he drove on, applauding himself with a
hearty laugh, in which several people joined, to my great mortification;
but one, more compassionate than the rest, seeing us strangers, advised
me to go into an alehouse, and dry myself. I thanked him for his advice,
which I immediately complied with; and, going into the house he pointed
out, called for a pot of beer, and sat down by a fire in the public
room where we cleaned ourselves as well as we could. In the meantime, a
wag, who sat in a box, smoking his pipe, understanding, by our dialect,
that we were from Scotland, came up to me and, with a grave countenance
asked how long I had been caught. As I did not know the meaning of this
question, I made no answer; and he went on, saying it could not be a
great while, for my tail was not yet cut; at the same time taking hold
of my hair, and tipping the wink to the rest of the company, who seemed
highly entertained with his wit. I was incensed at this usage, but
afraid of resenting it, because I happened to be in a strange place,
and perceived the person who spoke to me was a brawny fellow, for whom
I thought myself by no means a match. However, Strap, having either more
courage or less caution, could no