sorry for being employed in such an office, but durst not for his
soul disobey the orders of his commander, flourished the scourge
about his head, and with admirable dexterity made such a smarting
application to the offender's back and shoulders, that the distracted
gauger performed sundry new cuts with his feet, and bellowed
hideously with pain, to the infinite satisfaction of the spectators.
At length, when he was almost flayed from his rump to the nape of
his neck, Hatchway, who had purposely absented himself hitherto,
appeared in the yard, and interposing in his behalf, prevailed upon
Trunnion to call off the executioner, and ordered the malefactor
to be released.

The exciseman, mad with the catastrophe he had undergone, threatened
to be revenged upon his employers, by making a candid confession of
the whole plot; but the lieutenant giving him to understand, that
in so doing, he would bring upon himself a prosecution for fraud,
forgery, and imposture, he was fain to put up with his loss;
and sneaked out of the garrison, attended with a volley of curses
discharged upon him by the commodore, who was exceedingly irritated
by the disturbance and disappointment he had undergone.





CHAPTER XV.