interesting people. Now he was bidden adopt a course of life against
which his whole nature rebelled. It was impossible. He missed the
atmosphere of vagabondage that had inspired and stimulated his early
boyhood.

The crisis came at last. There was only one way to avoid the awkward
and distasteful destiny that was being forced upon him. He entered
into a conspiracy with three school-fellows, all younger than
himself, to make a dash for a life that should offer wider
opportunities to their adventurous natures. The plan was to tramp to
Great Yarmouth and there excavate on the seashore caves for their
habitation. From these headquarters they would make foraging
expeditions, and live on what they could extract from the surrounding
country, either by force or by the terror that they inspired. One
morning the four started on their twenty-mile trudge to the sea; but,
when only a few miles out, one of their number became fearful and
turned back.

Encouraged by their leader, the others continued on their way. The
father of the other two boys appears to have got wind of the project
and posted after them in a chaise. He came up with them at Acle,
about eleven miles from Norwich. When they were first seen, Borrow
was striving to hearten his fellow buccaneers, who were tired and
dispirited after their long walk. The three were unceremoniously
bundled into the chaise and returned to their homes and,
subsequently, to the wrath of the Rev. Edward Valpy. {25a}

The names of the three confederates were John Dalrymple (whose heart
failed him) and Theodosius and Francis Purland, sons of a Norwich
chemist. The Purlands are credited with robbing "the paternal till,"