peat the 'salamon,' or oath of our creed, after my
dictation," said the patrico; and Turpin, signifying his assent by a
nod, Balthazar propounded the following abjuration:

OATH OF THE CANTING CREW

I, Crank-Cuffin, swear to be
True to this fraternity;
That I will in all obey
Rule and order of the lay.
Never blow the gab, or squeak;
Never snitch to bum or beak;
But religiously maintain
Authority of those who reign
Over Stop-Hole Abbey Green,
Be they tawny king, or queen.
In their cause alone will fight;
Think what they think, wrong or right;
Serve them truly, and no other,
And be faithful to my brother;
Suffer none, from far or near,
With their rights to interfere;
No strange Abram, ruffler crack,
Hooker of another pack,
Rogue or rascal, frater, maunderer,
Irish toyle, or other wanderer;
No dimber damber, angler, dancer,
Prig of cackler, prig of prancer;
No swigman, swaddler, clapperdudgeon;
Cadge-gloak, curtal, or curmudgeon;
No whip-jack, palliard, patrico;
No jarkman, be he high or low;
No dummerar, or romany;
No member of "_the Family_;"
No ballad-basket, bouncing buffer,
Nor any other, will I suffer;
But stall-off now and for ever,
All outliers whatsoever:
And as I keep to the foregone,
So may help me Salamon![36]

"So help me Salamon!" repeated Turpin, with emphasis.

"Zoroaster," said the patrico to the upright man, "do thy part of this
ceremonial."

Zoroaster obeyed; and, taking Excalibur from the knight of Malta,
bestowed a hearty thwack with the blade upon the shoulders of the
kneeling highwayman, assisting him afterwards to arise.

The inauguration was complete.

"Well," exclaimed Dick, "I'm glad it's all over. My leg feels a little
stiffish. I'm not much given to kneeling. I must dance it off;" saying
which, he began to shuffle upon the boards. "I tell you what," continued
he, "most reverend patrico, that same 'salmon' of yours has a cursed
long tail. I could scarce swallow it all, and it's strange if it don't
give me an indigestion. As to you, sage Zory, from the dexterity with
which you flourish your sword, I should say you had practised at court.
His majesty could scarce do the thing better, when, slapping some fat
alderman upon the shoulder, he bids him arise Sir Richard. And now,
pals," added he, glancing round, "as I am one of you, let's hav