Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 2.djvu/189

 G.; "and if you favour him, I'll put you under arrest, and stop your liquor."

This last part of the threat had more effect with Mr. Pipes than the first. He began to peel, as the boxers call it; off came his capacious coat; a red waiscoat—full-sized for a Smithfield ox—was next deposited; then he untied a black silk handkerchief: and showed a throat, covered like that of a goat, with long brown hairs, thick as pack-thread. He next rolled up his shirtsleeves above his elbow, and showed an arm and a back very like the Farnese Hercules, which, no doubt, all my readers have seen at the foot of the staircase at Somerset-house, when they have been to the exhibition.

This hopeful commentator on articles of war, seized his cat: the handle was two feet long, one inch and three quarters thick, and covered with red baize. The tails of this terrific weapon were three feet long, nine in number, and each of them about the size of that line which covers the springs of a travelling carriage.