or humour:  but in an illegal society or gang, as this of ours, it is otherwise; for who would be at the head of a gang, unless for his own interest?  And without a head, you know, you cannot subsist.  Nothing but a head, and obedience to that head, can preserve a gang a moment from destruction.  It is absolutely better for you to content yourselves with a moderate reward, and enjoy that in safety at the disposal of your chief, than to engross the whole with the hazard to which you will be liable without his protection.  And surely there is none in the whole gang who hath less reason to complain than you; you have tasted of my favours:  witness that piece of ribbon you wear in your hat, with which I dubbed you captain.  Therefore pray, captain, deliver the watch.”  “D—­n your cajoling,” says Blueskin:  “do you think I value myself on this bit of ribbon, which I could have bought myself for sixpence, and have worn without your leave?  Do you imagine I think myself a captain because you, whom I know not empowered to make one, call me so?  The name of captain is but a shadow:  the men and the salary are the substance; and I am not to be bubbled with a shadow.  I will be called captain no longer, and he who flatters me by that name I shall think affronts me, and I will knock him down, I assure you.”  “Did ever man talk so unreasonably?” cries Wild.  “Are you not respected as a captain by the whole gang since my dubbing you so?  But it is the shadow only, it seems; and you will knock a man down for affronting you who calls you captain!  Might not a man as reasonably tell a minister of state, Sir, you have given me the shadow only?  The ribbon or the bauble that you gave me implies that I have either signalised myself, by some great action, for the benefit and glory of my country, or at least that I am descended from those who have done so.  I know myself to be a scoundrel, and so have been those few ancestors I can remember, or have ever heard of.  Therefore, I am resolved to knock the first man down who calls me sir or right honourable.  But all great and wise men think themselves sufficiently repaid by what procures them honour and precedence in the gang, without enquiring into substance; nay, if a title or a feather be equal to this purpose, they are substance, and not mere shadows.  But I have not time to argue with you at present, so give me the watch without any more deliberation.”  “I am no more a friend to deliberation than yourself,” answered Blueskin, “and so I tell you, once for all, by G—­I never will give you the watch, no, nor will I ever hereafter surrender any part of my booty.  I won it, and I will wear it.  Take your pistols yourself, and go out on the highway, and don’t lazily think to fatten yourself with the dangers and pains of other people.”  At which words he departed in a fierce mood, and repaired to the tavern used by the gang, where he had appointed to meet some of his acquaintance, whom he informed of what had passed between him and