Richard and Woolf kept guard and watch. The latter sent a trusty servant to coast up and down the Severn, to see if it might be crossed without danger, but he found that not only all the bridges were secured but all the boats seized, and the strictest watch kept up along the river to intercept the royal fugitive and his companions. Thus the way to Wales was thoroughly barred against him. The only alternative left was to retrace his steps to Boscobel. So, when darkness settled down again upon hunted and hunters, he was taken again into Woolf's house and prepared for his return journey. A part of this preparation was to discolour his hands more fully with walnut tree leaves, which Mrs. Woolf rubbed upon them until they looked more like a real woodman's. At about eleven o'clock, when all was still and dark, the King and Richard stole out of the back door and stepped off into the night with low-whispered thanks to the host of the farm-house at parting
They reached the wood at Boscobel about three o'clock on the morning of Saturday, and there Richard left his charge whilst he went stealthily to reconnoitre about the house to see if it was free from soldiers and other dangers. He found in it another fugitive guest, Colonel William Carlis, who, Blount says, "had seen the last man killed at Worcester, and who had made his way to
