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joined, to my great mortification; but one, more compassionate than the rest, seeing us strangers, advised me to go into an ale-house, and dry ourselves. I thanked him for his advice, which I immediately complied with; and going into the house he pointed out, called for a pot of beer, and sat down by the fire, in a public room, where we cleaned ourselves as well as we could. In the mean time, a wag who sat in the box, smoaking his pipe, understanding by our dialect who we were asked me, how long I had been caught? As I did not know the meaning of his question, I made no answer; and he went on, saying, it could not be a great while, for my tail was not yet cut; at the same time taking hold of my hair, and tipping the wink to the rest of the company, who seemed highly entertained with his wit. I was incensed at this usage, but afraid of resenting it, because I happened to be in a strange place, and perceiving the person who spoke to me was a brawny fellow, for whom I was by no means a match. However Strap could not put up with the insults that I suffered, but told him he was an uncivil fellow for making so free with his betters. Whereupon the wit going toward him, asked what he had got in his knapsack? said he, seizing him by the chin. My companion feeling himself assaulted in such an opprobrious manner disengaged himself
