And broke in upon Jenkins, ship and person, in a most extraorinary
manner. Tore up his hatches; plunged down, seeking logwood, hides,
pieces-of-eight; found none,--not the least trace of contraband on
board of Jenkins. They brought up his quadrants, sextants,
however; likewise his stock of tallow candles: they shook and
rummaged him, and all things, for pieces-of-eight; furiously
advised him, cutlass in hand, to confess guilt. They slashed the
head of Jenkins, his left ear almost off. Order had been given,
'Scalp him!'--but as he had no hair, they omitted that;
merely brought away the wig, and slashed:--still no confession,
nor any pieces-of-eight. They hung him up to the yard-arm,--actual
neck-halter, but it seems to have been tarry, and did not run:--
still no confession. They hoisted him higher, tied his cabin-boy
to his feet; neck-halter then became awfully stringent upon
Jenkins; had not the cabin-boy (without head to speak of) slipt
through, noose being tarry; which was a sensible relief to
Jenkins. Before very death, they lowered Jenkins, 'Confess,
scoundrel, then!' Scoundrel could not confess; spoke of 'British
Majesty's flag, peaceable English subject on the high seas.'--
'British Majesty; high seas!' answered they, and again hoisted.
Thrice over they tried Jenkins in this manner at the yard-arm,
once with cabin-boy at his feet: never had man such a day,
outrageous whiskerando cut-throats tossing him about, his poor
Rebecca and him, at such rate! Sun getting low, and not the least
trace of contraband found, they made a last assault on Jenkins;
clutched the bloody slit ear of him; tore it mercilessly off;
flung it in his face, 'Carry that to your King, and tell him of
it!' Then went their way; taking Jenkins's tallow candles, and the
best of his sextants with them; so that he could hardly work his
passage home again, for want of latitudes;--and has lost in goods