The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 299: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

226 THE STEAM PACKET. with an oath which the reader will not insist upon our recording, But scarcely had he time to start up in his bed, when blows, thick as hail, showered down upon him from invisible hands (it being, as we be- fore observed, pitch dark); and again, and again, did floods of water deluge him and his couch. Half dead with the punishment he re- — ceived, and dripping like a drowned rat, the poor wretch implored for mercy, in a voice so piteous that it induced his tormentors to desist. ‘‘ That ’s the vay to sarve out fellers as, wants to usurp a hauthority for vhich they ain’t no more intended by natur than I am to perside at the dining table at Vindsor Castle,” suddenly exclaimed a voice, when the blows and the water ceased to pour upon the body of the insurgent leader. Lenk ‘‘Oh! Mr. Gibbins,” cried the unfortunate wight, almost suffocated and entirely covered over with bruises, ‘‘ pray have mercy upon me, and Ill never—no, I ’Jl never do anything against Mr. Pifpaf and his friends again.” | , “Villain!” cried Captain Pentonville: ‘‘ you won’t be able to look honest men, like us, in the face as long as you live.” “TI always knew a fellow that wore such rum smalls couldn't be good for much,” observed Mr. Buckram. Mr. Rumtutch recognised the voices of these gentlemen, and re- newed his protestations of good conduct for the future. ‘* You must withdraw the proclamation, in the first place!”’ said the captain. ‘“‘ And declare that your confederates were the mainsprings of the conspiracy, and that they compelled you to take the lead,” proceeded the tailor. _ ‘¢ And find sek-urities for your wery immakilate behaviour in future,” added Mr. Gibbins ; “‘ yourself in a fi’ pun note, and a couple o’ house- keepers in two pun’ ten each.” ‘¢ Anything—anything, my good friends,” said Mr. Rumtutch, who shivered with cold and writhed with pain: ‘‘ only for God’s sake let me change my linen, and lie down to rest.” ‘Go and get alight, Tom,” said the captain; : WReoU have the revocation of the pronunciamento signed at once.’ | Mr. Gibbins departed to execute his master’s commission ; : and while he was gone Mr. Buckram read the delinquent a long Lake upon the impropriety of kicking against the powers that be, the ingratitude he had manifested towards his mild and merciful ruler, and the happi- ness he ought to experience in having been only ducked in his bed instead of in a horse-pond, and belaboured with fists instead of a good rattan. ‘‘For my part,” added the tailor, “I have totally lost all confidence in you; and so far from recommending you, as I some time Eomichbooks: co