The Adventures of Roderick Random

Description of the Uncle

The uncle is described as a strong-built man, somewhat bandy-legged, with a neck like that of a bull and a weather-beaten face. His attire consists of a soldier’s coat altered by the ship’s tailor, a striped flannel jacket, red breeches spanned with pitch, clean gray worsted stockings, large silver buckles covering three-fourths of his shoes, a silver-laced hat, a black bobwig in buckle, a check shirt, a silk handkerchief, a hanger with a brass handle girded to his thigh by a furnished lace belt, and a good oak plant under his arm. Thus equipped, he set out with the narrator for the grandfather’s house.

Journey to Grandfather’s House

The uncle and the narrator, who by his uncle’s bounty now made a very decent appearance, departed together for the grandfather’s house. Their arrival was marked by an encounter with Jowler and Caesar, two dogs that the young cousin had let loose at their approach.

Encounter with the Dogs

Being well acquainted with the ferocity of these curs, the narrator was about to flee, but his uncle seized him with one hand, brandished his cudgel with the other, and at one blow laid Caesar sprawling on the ground. Finding himself attacked at the same time in the rear by Jowler, and fearing Caesar might recover, the uncle drew his hanger, wheeled about, and by a lucky stroke severed Jowler’s head from his body.

Defeat of the Dogs

By this time, the young foxhunter and three servants armed with pitchforks and flails came to the assistance of the dogs, whom they found breathless upon the field. The young squire was so provoked at the death of his favorites that he ordered his attendants to advance and take vengeance on their executioner, loading the uncle with all the curses and reproaches his anger could suggest. The uncle stepped forward with an undaunted air, at the sight of whose bloody weapons his antagonists fell back with precipitation.