my own room in the evening, I found the window
open, and looking out, I saw that the height from the sill to the ground
was not more than from twelve to fifteen feet.

"Ho, ho!" thought I; "it will be a foolish bird which can't get out of a
cage like this; but I will bide my time." I hurried away, and ran
downstairs, where I was soon after summoned to supper. I made myself
quite at home, and did not fail to do justice to the meal. The
household went to rest early, and as soon as I fancied every one was
asleep I got up from my bed, where I had thrown myself, and reconnoitred
the ground. To avoid the risk of laming myself by a jump, I tied my
sheets together, and secured them to the leg of a table, which I managed
to jam between the shutter and the wall so as to prevent its slipping;
and placing my hat tightly on my head, and buttoning up my coat, I let
myself quietly down to the ground. I was afraid of awakening some one
in the house should I run, as I felt inclined to do; so I crept softly
away, till I had got to some distance, and then took to my heels, as
fast as I could go, in the direction of the town or fishing village
where I had landed. After going for some distance, I thought that I
must have missed my way; but the murmur of the water on the beach
assured me that I had taken the right direction. At last I found myself
among some straggling cottages, my nose helping me to find the locality
I was in search of. My first care was to look out for the lugger, to
avoid her. Much to my satisfaction, she was not there, neither was any
one moving on the quay; so I walked about till I found a shed somewhat
less odorous than its neighbours, where I determined to take up my abode
till daylight. Here I quickly made myself a nest with some ropes and
spars--albeit not a very soft one,--and fell fast asleep. Having the
necessity of being alert on my mind, I awoke just as dawn was breaking,
and, jumping up, I ran down to the quay. The flapping of a sail told me
that some one was astir, and, looking round, I saw at the end of the
quay a cutter preparing to get under weigh.

"Cutter ahoy!" I sung out, running the chance of anybody understanding
me. "Where are you bound for?"

"Hillo; who are you?" asked a voice in English.

"I want a cast across the Channel," I answered.

"Well, come aboard, and we'll see what we can do for you," said the same
speaker.

I accordingly ran along the quay, and jumped on the cutter'