to go
on to Linz and take my chance there. I sat still and tried not to think.

"After a long time, we began to run more slowly. I put my head out and
could see in the distance a ring of lights hanging in the blackness. I
loosened the carriage door and waited for the train to run slower still;
I didn't mean to go into Linz like a rat into a trap. At last I could
wait no longer; I opened the door, jumped and fell into some bushes. I
was not much hurt, but bruised, and the breath knocked out of me. As
soon as I could, I crawled out. It was very dark. I felt heavy and
sore, and for some time went stumbling in and out amongst trees.
Presently I came to a clear space; on one side I could see the town's
shape drawn in lighted lamps, and on the other a dark mass, which I think
was forest; in the distance too was a thin chain of lights. I thought:
'They must be the lights of a bridge.' Just then the moon came out, and
I could see the river shining below. It was cold and damp, and I walked
quickly. At last I came out on a road, past houses and barking dogs,
down to the river bank; there I sat against a shed and went to sleep. I
woke very stiff. It was darker than before; the moon was gone. I could
just see the river. I stumbled on, to get through the town before dawn.
It was all black shapes-houses and sheds, and the smell of the river, the
smell of rotting hay, apples, tar, mud, fish; and here and there on a
wharf a lantern. I stumbled over casks and ropes and boxes; I saw I
should never get clear--the dawn had begun already on the other side.
Some men came from a house behind me. I bent, and crept behind some
barrels. They passed along the wharf; they seemed to drop into the
river. I heard one of them say: 'Passau before night.' I stood up and
saw they had walked on board a steamer which was lying head up-stream,
with some barges in tow. There was a plank laid to the steamer, and a
lantern at the other end. I could hear the fellows moving below deck,
getting up steam. I ran across the plank and crept to the end of the
steamer. I meant to go with them to Passau! The rope which towed the
barges was nearly taut; and I knew if I could get on to the barges I
should be safe. I climbed down on this rope and crawled along. I was
desperate, I knew they'd soon be coming up, and it was getting light. I
thought I should fall into the water several times, but I got to the
barge at last. It was laden with straw.