"That is well," said he. "It matters not whether we go to France or the Pole, so I breathe some freer air than this of England. Let us start now. We must not go together. I will take the wherry while you go by land." "First," said I, "put on this cast-off suit of mine, which I thought to give away to a beggar man, once; but thank Heaven I did not." "You give it to a beggar now," said he, "and I thank you, Humphrey, for a gift I never expected to take from you." Then we hid the dead carter's clothes in the river; and, not long after, a skiff put out from shore with a big 'prentice lad in it, who rowed lazily Bridgewards. I stood watching him, when, suddenly, the outer door opened, and a company of the watch trooped in. "Good e'en to you, Master Dexter," said the leader of them, whose head I had once chanced to break, and who had been monstrous civil to me ever since. "We must search this house, by your leave." "What for?" I asked. "For villains and lurchers," said he, "and if you keep any such in hiding, you had best speak and save trouble." "Wert thou not on a good service," said I, blustering, "I would knock some of your heads together for supposing I harboured villains. The only villains in this place are some of you, sirs. What do you take me for?" "Nevertheless," said the leader, "we must look round. And, if there be naught to find, there is naught for thee to fear, Master Humphrey." "You must bring twice your number before I shake in my shoes at you," said I. "Come, look where you will, and, when you have found them, I pray you let me have a sight of the rogues." And I went on with my printing. Of course they found naught. But I, as I stood at the press, could see from the window far down the river a boat lolling on the stream, and thanked Heaven all this had not fallen an hour earlier. They searched upstairs and downstairs, in the wet cellar, and in the maiden's chamber. They peeped in the cupboards, and up the chimneys, and put their heads out on the roof. Then, when they were satisfied, I asked would they like to spy in my pockets, whereat they departed somewhat ruffled, and left me to breathe again. Late that night I stood on board the _Misericorde_. The captain was on the look-out for me. "By your leave," said he, "you be none too early, comrade. Your fellow 'prentice,"--here he gave me a knowing look--"hath been here this hour, and is in his berth." So I went below, and there lay Ludar sound asleep in a hammock, in the very cabin where he and I had lain once before. About midnight I could hear the grinding of the anchor chain at the bows, which was music to my ears, as was the heavy trampling on deck, and the shouting, and the dabbling of the water at the ports. Amidst it all, I too fell asleep; and when I woke and stood next day on deck, I could see on our right the sullen forts on the Medway, and, behind, the long, low, green line of the Essex mud banks.