brief hours he had lived more than treble the
number of years. He patiently lingered, till the shades of evening
closed, to effect an escape, that had now become more easy, inasmuch as
the inmates of the palace had nearly all retired to their apartments.
Through the agency of the yew-tree, he arrived at the highest portion of
the wall, and looking over, perceived that a roof descended from the
large coping-stones on which he stood, in a slanting manner, and that
the building communicated by an arched covering to the palace: the
Thames was not distant from the base of the building more than sixty
yards, so that once down, his escape was certain. Watching the movements
of a sentry, posted at some little distance from the gate, he slid along
the roof, stretching himself at full length, and without any further
mishap crawled to the river's brink, plunged in, and arrived at the
Surrey-side of the silver Thames in perfect safety. He resolved to cross
the country to Bromley with as little delay as possible, inasmuch as he
had friends there who would hasten his journey;--and as concealment was
no longer needed, he thought that a good steed would be most valuable;
he therefore availed himself of one who was enjoying its evening meal
quietly among the Surrey hills; for the credit of his honesty, however,
it is fair to record, he noted the place, so that one of his agents
could restore the animal in the course of the following night. By this
manoeuvre, and urging its utmost speed, together with the assistance he
received at Bromley, Robin arrived at King's-ferry before the morning
was far advanced. He did not now, as on former occasions, cross the
Swale to Elmley or Harty, with a view to avoid observation, but threw
himself into the boat of Jabez Tippet, the ferryman, to whom, as it may
be supposed, he was well known.

Jabez carried about him all the external distinctions of Puritanism--a
cropped head--a downcast eye--a measured step, and a stock of sighs and
religious exclamations. There was one maxim that found a ready response
within his bosom. "He was all things to all men;" could aid a smuggler,
drink with a Cavalier, pray with a Roundhead. He was, moreover, a tall,
powerful man--one who, if he found it fitting, could enforce a holy
argument with a carnal weapon; cutting a man's throat, while he
exclaimed, "It is the Lord's will! it is the Lord's will!" There was
nothing peculiar in his dress, except a huge pair of loose boots