At last I contrived to unbolt it again, and got out, when they laughed still more, at the seat of my trowsers being torn off.

It was not exactly a laughing matter to me, although I had to congratulate myself upon a very lucky escape; and so did my messmates think, when I narrated my adventures.

The pelican was the worst part of the business.

O'Brien lent me a dark silk handkerchief, which I tied round my waist, and let drop behind, so that my misfortunes might not attract any notice, and then we quitted the menagerie; but I was so stiff that I could scarcely walk.
We then went to what they called the Ranelagh Gardens, to see the fireworks, which were to be let off at ten o'clock.

It was exactly ten when we paid for our admission, and we waited very patiently for a quarter of an hour, but there were no signs of the fireworks being displayed.