I I - American Memory

State of Infenfibllity. I got down the Boots, open'd
the inner-Door, went into the Yard, and opening the
Yard Door, went juft without, and was going to draw
them on when the Door fell too with fuch a Noife that
fhook the whole Houfe, which made me run with them
in my Hand all along the Dirt, till I came to a little
kind of a Hovel which was open, fo in I went, and
having drawn them on as well as I could for my wet
Stockings, and finding no Body purfued me, I pro-
ceeded forward on my Journey for London, as knowing
it was not my Bufinefs to remain in thofe Parts.
As foon as I was got about half a Mile from the
Town, I came to a very large Common, and for my
Life 1 could not find my Way out, fo that I was forced
to take Shelter in an old Cow-houfe, which was fiU'd
with Bundles of Flax, among which I lay ftill till Day-
light, when the Owner came that Way, and finding his
Flax tumbled, he went to put it in Order again, in do-
ing which he uncover'd me, and afk'd me what I did
there ? I told him that having got a little in Liquor
the Night before, and could not find my Way off of
the Common, fo I was oblig'd by the Cold to take
Shelter there. It happen'd that he knew nothing at all
of me or my Story; fo he put me in my Road, which
I purfu'd, but not without Fear that every one was
come to re-take me. However, I met nothing remark-
able till I came to Barking, into which I did not care
to enter till it was dark Night; and as I was going
thro' the Town I heard a Door open, and turning my
Head to the Noife, I faw a Woman, who call'd to me
to come to her, acccordingly I went, and aik'd what
flie would have with me ? She turn'd to another Wo-
man and faid. It is he Jure enough; and fays to me.
Come in, left any Body Jhould fee you : So in I went,
and they prov'd the People who ufed to wafh my Lin-
nen. Whilft I was in this Town they told me, that I
muft take Care of myfelf, for every Body in that Town
knew of my Exploits, and that the two Men from
whom I bad efcap'd, had been to feek aftei me, but
not