Page:Life of Colonel Jack (1810).djvu/33

 died with the sight of it; but I grew better acquainted with those things afterwards.

I did what I could to comfort the poor captain, when I got leave to come to him. But the worst was not over with him, for he was to have two more such whippings before they had done with him; and indeed they scourg'd him so severely, that they made him sick of the kidnapping trade for a great while; but he fell in among them again, and kept among them as long as that trade lasted, for it ceased in a few years afterwards.

The major and I, though very young, had sensible impressions made upon us for some time, by the severe usage of the captain, and it might be very well said, we were corrected as well as he, tho' not concerned in the crime: But it was within the year that the major, a good condition'd easy boy, was wheedled away by a couple of young rogues that frequented the glass-house apartments, to take a walk with them, as they were pleased to call it; The gentlemen were very well match'd, the major was about 12 years old, and the oldest of the two that led him out, was not above 14; the business was to go to Bartholomew-Fair---was, in short, to pick pockets.

The major knew nothing of the trade, and therefore was to do nothing; but they promised him a share for all that, as if he had been as expert as