o demand the assistance of
our competitors, who should be ready to enforce us, or oppose anything
that might be undertaken for the master's relief. One of my principal
assistants was called Jeremy Gawky, son and heir of a wealthy gentleman
in the neighbourhood; and the name of the other, Hugh Strap, the cadet
of a family which had given shoemakers to the village time out of mind.
I had once saved Gawky's life, by plunging into a river and dragging him
on shore, when he was on the point of being drowned. I had often rescued
him from the clutches of those whom his insufferable arrogance had
provoked to a resentment he was not able to sustain; and many times
saved his reputation and posteriors, by performing his exercises at
school; so that it is not to be wondered at, if he had a particular
regard for me and my interests. The attachment of Strap flowed from a
voluntary, disinterested inclination, which had manifested itself on
many occasions in my behalf, he having once rendered me the same service
that I had rendered Gawky, by saving my life at the risk of his own;
and often fathered offences that I had committed, for which he suffered
severely, rather than I should feel the weight of the punishment.
These two champions were the more willing to engage in this enterprise,
because they intended to leave the school next day, as well as I; the
first being ordered by his father to return into the country, and the
other being bound apprentice to his barber, at a market town not far
off.

In the meantime, my uncle, being informed of my master's behaviour to
me, was enraged at his insolence, and vowed revenge so heartily that I
could not refrain from telling him the scheme I had concerted, while
he heard with great satisfaction, at every sentence squirting out a
mouthful of spittle, tinctured with tobacco, of which he constantly
chewed a large quid. At last, pulling up his breeches, he cried, "No,
no, z--ds! that won't do neither; howsoever, 'tis a bold undertaking, my
lad, that I must say, i'faith; but lookee, lookee, how do you propose
to get clear off--won't the enemy give chase, my boy?--ay, ay, that he
will, I warrant, and alarm the whole coast; ah! God help thee, more sail
than ballast, Rory. Let me alone for that--leave the whole to me. I'll
show him the foretopsail, I will. If so be your shipmates are jolly
boys, and won't flinch, you shall see, you shall see; egad, I'll play
him such a salt-water trick I'll bring him to