said she was mistaken, she
had no cloak there for less than a gold angel.

"Show it me," said I, coming alongside.

It was what I wanted, yet I durst not say so. So I snatched it by
force, and tossing the woman an angel, made off with my prize, leaving
them amazed and swearing by all the heathen gods they had been robbed
and left beggars.

While I delayed thus my pursuers had gained rapidly upon me, and I saw I
must pull away in earnest if I was to avoid them. So, comforted to have
the cloak, and resolved, if I rowed all the way from here to the sea, I
would overtake the _Misericorde_, I cast aside all languor and made my
craft once more leap through the water. The wind was freshening fast
and helped me on. Alas! I well knew it would soon do the same both for
the Frenchman's sails ahead, and for my pursuers behind. I own these
latter were stronger rowers than I, for still they seemed to be creeping
up upon me at every stroke, and by nothing I could do was I able to put
more distance between us. Should they overtake me, there would be more
delay, and that, whatever came of it, meant that the ship would be gone
beyond all reach. However, when at length I swung round the point and
looked up the broad reach that leads to Woolwich, there to my joy, half
a mile ahead was the _Misericorde_, setting her sails and waiting on the
coming breeze.

I paused not to shout, but gathered together all my powers, and let out
with my oars until I thought they would crack. For half-an-hour I could
not say whether I was gaining on her, or my waterman on me. At length I
resolved to risk the short delay of a signal. So I stood in my boat
waving the cloak over my head and shouting "Halloo!" with all the breath
in my body. I durst not wait more than a moment to watch for a reply.
None came, but instead, the yards bellied with the wind. I flung myself
with a groan on my seat, and took back my oars. Already the waterman
was within shouting distance, and his comrades not far behind. But I
heeded not their cries, and plunged my oars once again in bitter chase.
It was long before I durst look round. Then, to my surprise, I saw her
standing away in to the Essex shore with all her sails full of wind.

Then all seemed lost, till I reflected that she must come back for
another tack before she could clear the bend. If so, I was safe. So I
kept steadily on, scarcely holding my own with my pursuers, until at
length, to my joy, I saw h