straw, with some biscuit-sacks, or
bread-sacks, as they called them, laid upon it, and some of the same
sacks to cover him.

Here they resolved (seeing all employment being at an end, and no work
or wages to be had), they would make the best of their way to get out of
the reach of the dreadful infection, and, being as good husbands as they
could, would endeavour to live upon what they had as long as it would
last, and then work for more if they could get work anywhere, of any
kind, let it be what it would.

While they were considering to put this resolution in practice in the
best manner they could, the third man, who was acquainted very well with
the sailmaker, came to know of the design, and got leave to be one of
the number; and thus they prepared to set out.

It happened that they had not an equal share of money; but as the
sailmaker, who had the best stock, was, besides his being lame, the most
unfit to expect to get anything by working in the country, so he was
content that what money they had should all go into one public stock, on
condition that whatever any one of them could gain more than another, it
should without any grudging be all added to the public stock.

They resolved to load themselves with as little baggage as possible
because they resolved at first to travel on foot, and to go a great
way that they might, if possible, be effectually safe; and a great many
consultations they had with themselves before they could agree about
what way they should travel, which they were so far from adjusting that
even to the morning they set out they were not resolved on it.

At last the seaman put in a hint that determined it. 'First,' says he,
'the weather is very hot, and therefore I am for travelling north, that
we may not have the sun upon our faces and beating on our breasts, which
will heat and suffocate us; and I have been told', says he, 'that it is
not good to overheat our blood at a time when, for aught we know, the
infection may be in the very air. In the next place,' says he, 'I am for
going the way that may be contrary to the wind, as it may blow when we
set out, that we may not have the wind blow the air of the city on our
backs as we go.' These two cautions were approved of, if it could be
brought so to hit that the wind might not be in the south when they set
out to go north.

John the baker, who bad been a soldier, then put in his opinion.
'First,' says he, 'we none of us expect to get any lodgi