_Sir Geo._ I would not wish to sink, burn, or destroy, what I think was built for good service; but, damme, if I don't wing you, to teach you better manners. _Enter the three_ RUFFIANS, _not perceiving_ ROVER. _3d Ruff._ Ay, here's the honest fellow has brought us some cash. [_Looking at_ SIR GEORGE. _2d Ruff._ We're betrayed, it's the very gentleman, that's in pursuit of us, and this promise was only a decoy to throw us into his power--The pistol! [_Apart, and pointing to it._ SIR GEORGE _ramming the charge_. [_2d_ RUFFIAN _seizes and wrenches the piece from_ SIR GEORGE. _Sir Geor._ Ah, boys! _2d Ruff._ You'd have our lives, now we'll have yours. [_Presents the piece at_ SIR GEORGE; ROVER _advances quick, and knocks it out of his hand_. [_They run off._ _Rover._ Rascals! [_Pursues them._ _Sir Geor._ [_Takes up the other piece._] My brave lad! I'll--[_Going._ _Enter_ JOHN DORY. _John._ No, you shan't. [_Holding him._ _Sir Geor._ The rogues will-- _John._ Never mind the rogues-- [_Noise of fighting without, a piece let off._ _Sir Geor._ S'blood! Must I see my preserver perish. [_Struggling._ _John._ Well, I know I'm your preserver, and I will perish, but I'll bring you out of harm's way. [_Still holding him._ _Sir Geor._ Though he'd fight me himself-- _John._ Sure we all know you'd fight the devil. _Sir Geor._ He saved my life. _John._ I'll save your life [_Whips him up in his arms._] So hey! haul up, my noble little crab walk! [_Exit._ SCENE III. _A Room in_ BANKS'S _Cottage_. _Enter_ FARMER GAMMON, BANKS, _and_ SIM.--SIM _writing, and crying_. _F. Gam._ Boy, go on with the inventory. _Sim._ How unlucky! Feyther to lay hold of me when I wanted to practise my part. [_Aside._ _Banks._ This proceeding is very severe, to lay an execution on my wretched trifling goods when I thought-- _F. Gam._ Ay, you know you've gone up to the big house with your complaint--her ladyship's steward, to be sure, has made me give back your cottage and farm; but your goods I seize for my rent. _Banks._ Only leave me a very few necessaries--by the goodness of my neighbours, I may soon redeem what the law has put into your hands. _F. Gam._ The affair is now in my lawyer's hands, and plaintiff and defendant chattering about it, is all smoke. _Sim._ Feyther, don't be so cruel to Mr. Banks. _F. Gam._ I'll mark what I may want to keep for myself. Stay here, and see that not a pin's worth be removed without my knowledge. [_To_ SIM. [_Exit._ _Sim._ I'll be domm'd if I'll be your watch dog, to bite the poor, that I won't. Mr. Banks, as feyther intends to put up your goods at auction, if you could but get a friend to buy the choice of them for you again. Sister Jane has got steward to advance her a quarter's wages, and when I've gone to sell corn for feyther, besides presents, I've made a market penny now and then. Here--it's not much! but every little helps.