No court or star
chamber could proceed more summarily with a poor devil, than this trio
was about to do with me; condemning me to a punishment worse than a
Botany Bay exile, and to a fate which would alter the whole current of
my future life; for two years more in California would have made me
a sailor for the rest of my days. I felt all this, and saw the
necessity of being determined. I repeated what I had said, and
insisted upon my right to return in the ship.
I "raised my arm, and tauld my crack,
Before them a'."
But it would have all availed me nothing, had I been "some poor
body," before this absolute, domineering tribunal. But they saw that I
would not go, unless "vi et armis," and they knew that I had friends
and interest enough at home to make them suffer for any injustice they
might do me. It was probably this that turned the matter; for the
captain changed his tone entirely, and asked me if, in case any one
went in my place, I would give him the same sum that S--- gave
Harris to exchange with him. I told him that if any one was sent on
board the brig, I should pity him, and be willing to help him to that,
or almost any amount; but would not speak of it as an exchange.
Pages:
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480