Part 35 (1/2)

The h they, generally speaking, were not unapt

We pursued our way together, ratified by what had passed

Perhaps there is no sensation that so cheers, and sooths the soul, as the knowledge that there are other hus, whose happiness see to share our fate, receive our favours, and, whenever occasion offers, to return them ten fold!

And the pleasure is infinitely increased, when those who are ae, that we havehappiness

CHAPTER VI

_A foolish guide, and a gloohts lead to error, andthe above points, we had sat down; and rose to pursue our journey, as soon as we had brought them to a conclusion We were on the borders of a forest As we proceeded, we ca, told us that, by striking a little out of the road, we ht save half a mile

We had nine e coaches stopped; and were very willing, Clarke especially, to shorten the way The country part of the road; and that the rely, we put ourselves under his guidance

The sun had been down, by this tiht; but the as rising, she was continually obscured by thick swift-flying clouds, and our conductor advised us to push on, for it was likely to be a very bad night

In less than a quarter of an hour his prophecy began to be fulfilled

The rain fell, and at intervals the opposing clouds and currents of air, aided by the iave us a full variety of that whistling, roaring, and howling, which is heard in high winds

The darkness thickened upon us, and I was about to request the countrye, or even barn, for shelter, when he suddenly struck into another path; and, bidding us good night, again told us 'we could not one to; and, though we repeatedly called, we called in vain: he was too anxious to get shelter hi

So long as we could discern, the path ere in appeared to be tolerably beaten: butcould no longer trace any path; for it was too dark for the ground to have any distinct colour We had skirted the forest; and our only ree we placed our hopes We followed its direction, I know not how long, till it suddenly turned off, at an angle; and we found ourselves, as far as we could conjecture, frohts and the strenuous efforts we e of some wild place, probably a heath, with hills, and consequently deep vallies, perhaps streams of water, and precipices

We paused; we knelt down, examined with our eyes, and felt about with our hands, to discover whether we yet were in a path; but could find none

We continued our consultation, till we had begun to think it advisable to return, once e Yet this was not only very uncertain, but the idea of a retrograde motion was by no means pleasant

While ere in this irresolute dilelimmered for a moment, and as suddenly disappeared We watched, I know not how long, and again saw it twinkle, though, as we thought, in so of a different direction Clarke said it was a Will o'the whisp I replied, it ht be one, but, as it seemed the only chance we had, my advice was to continue our walk in that direction; in hopes that, if it were a light proceeding froe, it would become more visible as we approached

We walked on, I know not how far; and then paused; but discovered no ain stood still, and looked on every side of us, either for the light or any other object; but we could see nothing distinctly The obscure forms around us had varied their appearance; and whether they were hills, or clouds, or what they were, we could not possibly discover: though the first we still thought was the most probable

By this time, we had no certain recollection of which e had co our course We were continually in doubt: now pausing; now conjecturing; now proceeding

We continued to wander, we knew not whither Sometimes it appeared ent up hill; and sometimes down We had stepped very cautiously, and therefore very slowly; had warned each other continually to be careful; and had not dared to take twenty steps at a ti to know if all were safe

We continued, environed as it were by the objects that ht, the tunorance of where ere or by what objects surrounded, and the dejectedness which our situation inspired Thieves and assassins ulphs, rocks, or rivers, in our front, or on either side, and we could not see the, we knew not whither

These fears were not all iround very uneven on a sudden, and stuerously myself, I stood still--I did not hear my companion!--I called--I received no answer! I repeated, in a louder tone, 'Clarke! Where are you?'--Still no answer!

I then shouted, with all the fear that I felt, and heard a faint response, that seeious distance

It terrified; yet it relieved We had spoken not three minutes before