I had seen all I intended to see, and was departing, when I noticed eight or nine persons making towards me.

I was then only about eight or nine yards from the precipice of the pier, but going from it.

I expected that they would have divided to let me through them; instead of which they closed upon me and bore me back.

I was borne within a yard of the precipice, when I discovered my danger; and perceiving among them the murderer of Peter Green, and two others who had insulted me at the King's Arms, it instantly struck me that they had a design to throw me over the pier-head; which they might have done at this time, and yet have pleaded that I had been killed by accident.
There was not a moment to lose.

Vigorous on account of the danger, I darted forward.