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I think that my mind must have wandered； for when my soul was
swallowed in this deepest pit of hell； it seemed to me that he whom I
had worshipped as a heavenly patron； St。 Hubert； appeared striding by
my horse with a shining countenance and said to me：
〃Have good courage； Godson； and remember your mother's wordsa
wanderer shall you be； but where'er you go the good bow and the good
sword shall keep you safe and I wander with you。 Nor does all love die
with one woman's passing breath。〃
This phantasy； as it were； lanced the abscess of my pain and for a
while I was easier。 Also something of hope came back to me。 I no
longer desired to die but rather to live and in life； not in the tomb；
to find forgetfulness。
We reached the quay and placed the horses in a shed that served as
stables there； ridding them of their bits and saddles that they might
eat of the hay in the racks。 The thought to do this came to me； which
showed that my mind was working again since still I could attend to
the wants of other creatures。 Then we went to the quayside where was
made fast that boat in which I had come ashore some hours gone。 There
was a moon which now and again showed between the drifting clouds； and
by the light of it I saw that the /Blanche/ lay safe at her anchors
not a bowshot away。 The gale had fallen much with the rising of the
moon； as it often does； and so it came about that although the boat
was over…large for two men to handle rightly； Kari and I； by watching
our chance； were able to row it to the ship； on to which we climbed by
the ladder。
Here we found a sailor on watch who was amazed to see us； and with his
help； made the boat fast by the tow rope to the stern of the ship。
This done I caused the captain to be awakened and told him briefly
that as the gale had abated and tide and wind served； I desired to
sail at once。 He stared at me； thinking me mad； whom he knew to have
been married but that day。
Surely； he said； I should wait for the light and to gather up those of
the ship's company who were still ashore。 I answered that I would wait
for nothing； and when he asked why； was inspired to tell him that it
was because I went about the King's business； having letters from his
Grace to deliver to his Envoys in the South Seas that brooked of no
delay； since on them hung peace or war。
〃Beware；〃 I said to him； 〃how you； or any of you； dare to disobey the
King's orders； for you know that the fate of such is a short shrift
and a long rope。〃
Then that captain grew frightened and summoned the sailors； who by now
had slept off their drink； and to them he told my commands。 They
murmured； pointing to the sky； but when they saw me standing there；
wearing a knight's armour and looking very stern with my hand upon my
sword； when also through Kari I promised them double pay for the
voyage； they； too； grew frightened； and having set some small sails；
got up the anchors。
So it came about that within little more than an hour of our boarding
of that ship she was running out towards the sea as fast as tide and
wind could drive her。 I think that it was not too soon； for as the
quay vanished in the gloom I saw men with lanterns moving on it； and
thought to myself that perhaps an alarm had been given and they were
come to take me。
This captain was one who knew the river well； and with the help of
another sailor he steered us down its reaches safely。 By dawn we had
passed Tilbury and at full light were off Gravesend racing for the
open sea。 Now it was that behind us we perceived from the rushing
clouds that the gale； which had lulled during the night； was coming up
more strongly than ever and still easterly。 The sailors grew afraid
again and together with the captain vowed that it was madness to face
the sea in such weather； and that we must anchor； or make the shore if
we could。
I refused to listen to them； whereat they seemed to give way。
At that moment Kari； who had gone forward； called to me。 I went to him
and he pointed out to me men galloping along the bank and waving
kerchiefs； as though to signal to us to stop。
〃I think； Master；〃 said Kari； 〃that some have entered the sun…room at
your house。〃
I nodded and watched the men who galloped and waved。 For some minutes
I watched them till suddenly I saw that the ship was altering her
course so that her bow pointed first one way and then another； as
though she were no longer being steered。 We ran aft to learn the
cause； and found this。
That crew of dastards； every man of them and the captain with them；
had drawn up the boat in which Kari and I came aboard； that was still
tied to the ship's stern； and slid down the rope into her； purposing
to win ashore before it was too late。 Kari smiled as though he were
not astonished； but in my rage I shouted at them； calling them curs
and traitors。 I think that the captain heard my words for I saw him
turn his head and look away as though in shame； but not the others。
They were engaged in hunting for the oars； only to find them gone； for
it would seem that they had been washed or had fallen overboard。
Then they tried to set some kind of sail by aid of a boathook； but
while they were doing this； the boat； which had drifted side on to the
great waves raised by the gale upon the face of the broad river；
overturned。 I saw some of the men clinging to the boat and one or two
scrambling on to her keel； but what chanced to them and the others I
do not know； who had rushed to the steering gear to set the ship upon
her course again； lest her fate should be that of the boat； or we
should go ashore and be captured by those who galloped on the bank； or
be drowned。 This was the last I ever saw or heard of the crew of the
/Blanche/。
The ship's bow came round and； driven by the ever…increasing gale； she
rushed on her course towards the sea； bearing us with her； two weak
and lonely men。
〃Kari；〃 I said； 〃what shall we do？ Try to run ashore； or sail on？〃
He thought awhile then answered； pointing to those who galloped； now
but tiny figures on the distant bank：
〃Master； yonder is death； sure death； and yonder；〃 here he pointed to
the sea； 〃is deathperhaps。 Master； you have a God； and I； Kari； have
another God； mayhap same God with different name。 I sayTrust our
Gods and sail on； for Gods better than men。 If we die in water； what
matter？ Water softer than rope； but I think not die。〃
I nodded； for the reasoning seemed good。 Rather would I be drowned
than fall into the hands of those who were galloping on the shore； to
be dragged back to London and a felon's doom。
So I pressed upon the tiller to bring the /Blanche/ more into mid…
channel； and headed for the sea。 Wider and wider grew the estuary and
farther and farther away the shores as the /Blanche/ scudded on
beneath her small sails with the weight of the gale behind her； till
at last there was the open sea。
Within a few feet of the tiller was a deck…house； in which the crew
ate； built of solid oak and clamped with iron。 Here was food in
plenty； ale； too； and with these we filled ourselves。 Also； leaving
Kari to hold the tiller； I took off my armour and in place of it
clothed myself in t