"'It will. I will be with you; you know where to meet me. I shall be at the old spot at the usual time, and then we will go.'
"We parted; and, in the evening, we both went together, and sought the place where we should find him out, and set upon him to advantage.
"He was nearly two hours before he came; but when he did come, we saluted him with a rap on the head, that made him hold his tongue; and then we set to, and gave him such a tremendous drubbing, that we left him insensible; but he was soon taken away by some watchmen, and we heard that he was doing well; but he was dreadfully beaten; indeed, it would take him some weeks before he could be about in his duties.
"He was fearfully enraged, and offered fifty pounds reward to any one who could give him information as to who it was that assaulted him.
"I believe he had a pretty good notion of who it was; but he could not swear to me; but still, seeing he was busying himself too much about me, I at once walked away, and went on my way to another part of the country."
"To get married?"
"Ay, and to get into business."
"Then, things are not quite so bad as I thought for at first."
"No—no, not so bad but what they might have been worse a great deal; only I cannot go to sea any more, that's quite certain."
"You needn't regret that."