he came to see me, and out of his slender
finances not only supplied me with what necessaries I wanted for the
present, but resolved not to leave the country until he had prevailed on
my grandfather to settle something handsome for the future. This was
a task to which he was by no means equal, being entirely ignorant, not
only of the judge's disposition, but also of the ways of men in general,
to which his education on board had kept him an utter stranger.

He was a strong built man, somewhat bandy legged, with a neck like that
of a bull, and a face which (you might easily perceive) had withstood
the most obstinate assaults of the weather. His dress consisted of a
soldier's coat altered for him by the ship's tailor, a striped flannel
jacket, a pair of red breeches spanned with pitch, clean gray worsted
stockings, large silver buckles that covered three-fourths of his shoes,
a silver-laced hat, whose crown overlooked the brims about an inch and
a half, black bobwig in buckle, a check shirt, a silk handkerchief, a
hanger, with a brass handle, girded to his thigh by a furnished lace
belt, and a good oak plant under his arm. Thus equipped, he set out
with me (who by his bounty made a very decent appearance) for my
grandfather's house, where we were saluted by Jowler and Caesar, whom
my cousin, young master, had let loose at our approach. Being well
acquainted with the inveteracy of these curs, I was about to betake
myself to my heels, when my uncle seized me with one hand, brandished
his cudgel with the other, and at one blow laid Caesar sprawling on the
ground; but, finding himself attacked at the same time in the rear by
Jowler, and fearing Caesar might recover, he drew his hanger, wheeled
about, and by a lucky stroke severed Jowler's head from his body. By
this time, the young foxhunter and three servants, armed with pitchforks
and flails, were come to the assistance of the dogs, whom they found
breathless upon the field; and my cousin was so provoked at the death
of his favourites, that he ordered his attendants to advance, and take
vengeance on their executioner, whom he loaded with all the curses and
reproaches his anger could suggest. Upon which my uncle stepped
forwards with an undaunted air, at the sight of whose bloody weapons his
antagonists fell back with precipitation, when he accosted their leader
thus:

"Lookee, brother, your dogs having boarded me without provocation, what
I did was in my own defence. So yo