102 ROBERT POCOCK. 



this application, and said, ' Why take money ? If I have 

 done anything wrong, punish me/ I walked on and 

 he was still with me, but not liking his company much 

 I turned another way ; but he said, ' You must come 

 this way/ ' Why ? ' ' To take you to the grand place/ he 

 replied. 'Forwhat ?'said I. ' To punish you.' I laughed 

 again, and said, ' Certainly ;' but as he was a pitiful little 

 wasp he must show me his authority, which he instantly 

 did. I did not yet think anything of it ; I knew if he 

 took me to a magistrate I could give an explanation 

 as a stranger satisfactory to him ; and in walking on 

 still on my route upon the lower ramparts, I began to 

 be merry at the old fellow's expense. I asked him 

 the punishment for this heavy crime; not less than 

 being shot, I supposed, in which case I hoped for some 

 time to make my will ; and in this way he became ex- 

 cessively angry, which I enjoyed. He made a full 

 stand, and said if I would give him some money he 

 would let me go. I asked him where this house of 

 punishment was ; he said quite near, and supposing I 

 would meet with some gentleman, I would have an 

 opportunity of making a proper apology, and I con- 

 fess I had some idea of getting the old fellow drawn 

 over the coals for exacting money from me for his 

 own use. Laughing at him again I said, ' No ; if I am 

 to be shot, let me be shot/ Descending from the ram- 

 parts, we immediately, without going into the street 

 or town, entered a dark dungeon of a place which was 

 the guard-house ; and here he instantly gave me in 

 charge to the sergeant as a person who had been found 

 trespassing upon the ramparts. I asked for the officer 

 of the guard, but was told he was not there, and 

 that they must obey the directions of this towns- 



