y the evidence of this here letter, under your own hand, whereby I am
desired to come to your own house to transact an affair of consequence.
So he produced the writing, and read the contents in these words:--

"Mr. Roger Ravine.
Sir,--Being in a manner prisoner in my own house, I desire
you will give me a call precisely at three o'clock in the
afternoon, and insist upon seeing myself, as I have an affair
of great consequence, in which your particular advice is
wanted by your humble servant,
"Hawser Trunnion."

The one-eyed commander, who had been satisfied with the chastisement he
had already bestowed upon the plaintiff, hearing him read this audacious
piece of forgery, which he considered as the effect of his own villainy,
started up from table, and seizing a huge turkey that lay in a dish
before him, would have applied it, sauce and all, by way of poultice, to
his wound, had he not been restrained by Hatchway, who laid fast hold on
both his arms, and fixed him to his chair again, advising the attorney
to sheer off with what he had got. Far from following this salutary
counsel, he redoubled his threats: set Trunnion at defiance, telling him
he not a man of true courage, although he had commanded a ship of war,
or else he would not have attacked any person in such a cowardly and
clandestine manner. This provocation would have answered his purpose
effectually, had not his adversary's indignation been repressed by the
suggestions of the lieutenant, who desired his friend, in a whisper, to
be easy, for he would take care to have the attorney tossed in a
blanket for his presumption. This proposal, which he received with
great approbation, pacified him in a moment: he wiped the sweat from his
forehead, and his features relaxed into a grim smile.

Hatchway disappeared; and Ravine proceeded with great fluency of abuse,
until he was interrupted by the arrival of Pipes, who, without any
expostulation, led him out by the hand, and conducted him to the yard,
where he was put into a carpet, and in a twinkling sent into the air by
the strength and dexterity of five stout operators, whom the lieutenant
had selected from the number of domestics for that singular spell of
duty.

In vain did the astonished vaulter beg, for the love of God, that they
would take pity upon him, and put an end to his involuntary gambols:
they were deaf to his prayers and protesta