Majesty, in his eagerness to overtake us, had gathered too great headway and had landed, if I may use the word, in the water.
The other men, being in armor, were compelled to doff their iron before jumping in to save the king.

The night was dark, but we were so near the landing that I saw two of the men begin to throw off their armor, and presently I heard two splashes, followed quickly by two pistol shots in our direction.

In our direction, I say, because both of the balls struck our boat.
After the pistol shots, all was quiet, but I knew that one of the king's barges, with a dozen men at as many sweeps, and a score of men at arms, would soon follow us.

I made my way to the stern thwart of our boat, where Betty was sculling for dear life, taking her course diagonally across the river toward the Southwark bank.

After we had passed the swift current in the middle of the river, which I thought she had been seeking, I asked:-- "Why do you not keep to the centre, Betty?
You are making toward the other bank." "Yes," she replied, with what breath she could spare.