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AS he was speaking this, they perceived six hundred and threescore light horse∣men, gallantly mounted, who made an out∣rode thither, to see what ship it was that was newly arrived in the harbour, and came in a
full gallop to take them if they had been able: Then said Pantagruel, my Lads, re∣tire your selves unto the ship, here are some of our enemies coming apace, but I will kill them here before you like beasts, although they were ten times so many, in the meane time withdraw your selves, and take your sport at it. Then answered Panurge, No, Sir, there is no reason that you should do so, but on the contrary retire you unto the ship, both you and the rest; for I alone will here discomfit them, but we must not linger, come, set forward; whereunto the others said, It is well advised, Sir, withdraw your self, and we will help Panurge here, so shall you know what we are able to do: Then said Pantagruel, Well, I am content, but if that you be too weak, I will not faile to come to your assistance. With this Panurge took two great cables of the ship, and tied them to the kemstock or capstane which was on the deck towards the hatches, and fastened them in the ground, making a long circuit, the one further off, the other within that. Then said he to Epistemon, Go aboard the ship, and when I give you a call, turn about the capstane upon the orlop diligently, drawing unto you the two cable-ropes: and said to Eusthenes, and to Carpalin, My Bullies, stay you here, and offer your selves freely to your enemies, do as they bid you, and make as if you would
yield unto them: but take heed you come not within the compasse of the ropes, be sure to keep your selves free of them; and presently he went aboard the ship, and took a bundle of straw, and a barrel of gun-pow∣der, strowed it round about the compasse of the cordes, and stood by with a brand of fire or match lighted in his hand. Presently came the horsemen with great fury, and the foremost ran almost home to the ship, and by reason of the slipperinesse of the bank, they fell they and their horses, to the num∣ber of foure and fourty, which the rest see∣ing, came on, thinking that resistance had been made them at their arrival: But Pa∣nurge said unto them, My Masters, I be∣leeve that you have hurt your selves, I pray you pardon us, for it is not our fault, but the slipperinesse of the sea-water, that is alwayes flowing; we submit our selves to your good pleasure; so said likewise his two other fel∣lowes, and Epistemon that was upon the deck; in the mean time Panurge withdrew himselfe, and seeing that they were all within the com∣passe of the cables, and that his two compa∣nions were retired, making room for all those horses which came in a croud, thronging up∣on the neck of one another to see the ship, and such as were in it cried out on a sudden to Epistemon, Draw, draw: then began E∣pistemon to winde about the capstane, by do∣ing
whereof the two cables so intangled and impestered the legs of the horses, that they were all of them thrown down to the ground easily, together with their Riders: but they seeing that, drew their swords, and would have cut them: whereupon Panurge set fire to the traine, and there burnt them up all like damned souls, both men and horses, not one escaping save one alone, who being mounted on a fleet Turkie courser, by meere speed in flight got himself out of the circle of the ropes; but when Carpalin perceived him, he ran after him with such nimblenesse and ce••erity, that he overtook him in lesse then a hundred paces; then leaping close behinde him upon the crupper of his horse, clasped him in his armes, and brought him back to the ship.
This exploit being ended Pantagruel was very jovial, and wondrously commended the industry of these Gentlemen, whom he called his fellow-souldiers, and made them re∣fresh themselves, and feed well and merrily upon the sea-shore, and drink heartily with their bellies upon the ground, and their pri∣soner with them, whom they admitted to that familiarity: only that the poor devil was somewhat afraid that Pantagruel would have eaten him up whole, which, considering the widenesse of his mouth, and capacity of his throat, was no great matter for him to
have done; for he could have done it, as ea∣sily as you would eate a small comfit, he shewing no more in his throat, then would a graine of millet-seed in the mouth of an Asse.