I I - American Memory

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[ 271 ]
I pufh'd her off, and began to paddle at the Stem as f
had fecn them do; but before I was two Boats Length
off the Ship, I could neither fee Sliip nor Shoar, nor
any Thing elfe there was fuch a thick Fog, and not
knowing which Way the Tide ran, for methought
when I had pufh'd the Boat off fhe turn'd about, fo that
I thought I was driving up towards the Bridge. I en-
deavour'd to get her towards the Shore, but was not
able to fee any Thing by which I might be guided, fo
that after I had tir'd myfelf with paddling in vain an
Hour and half, finding that in fpite of all my Endea-
vours the Stream carry'd me along with it, I laid my
Oar into the Boat, and refolv'd to let it drive me vvhere
it would till it was a little lighter, and then I got on
Shore below WoohuUh, and the Ship from whence I
came lay over-againft Red-Houfe, which is above Dept-
ford; fo tying the Boat where I landed, I came for
London with all Speed.
Being got about half a Mile on this Side of DeptfirJ,
I met two Fellows who feem'd to have a Mind to my
Wig, they chaffer'd with me for it, and I afk'd half a
Guinea for it, and would not abate any Thing ; at lafl
they came up to my Price, but faid, they had not Mo-
ney enough about them, but if I would go back with
them to Defiford to a Publick Houfe there, they wou'd
pay me the Money ; I agreed to that direftly, and
went back with them to a Houfe where they called for
a Pot of Beer, and fitting down they fat on the out-
fide, and faid. Young Man vue dont 'want the Wig, for
it is not nuorth half the Money, hut a Friend of ours njoas
rob^d, and according to the Defcription,