precaution to fill.

"I was by this time completely overcome with fatigue and sleep. Antonio
flung me an immense horse-cloth, of which he bore more than one beneath
the huge cushion on which he rode. In this I wrapped myself, and placing
my head upon a bundle, and my feet as near as possible to the fire, I lay
down."

How delightful and soul-inspiring it would have been to the weary
pilgrim, jaded in the cause of the poor Gipsies, if Antonio's heart had
been full of religious zeal and fervour, and Hubert Petalengro and
Esmeralda, their souls filled to overflowing with the love of God, had
been by the side of the camp-fire, and the trio had struck up with their
sweet voices, as the good man was drawing his weary legs and cold feet
together before the embers of the dying Gipsy fire--

"Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.

"Open now the crystal fountain
Whence the healing waters flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy pillars,
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, be Thou still my strength and shield."

"Antonio and the other Gipsies remained seated by the fire conversing. I
listened for a moment to what they said, but I did not perfectly
understand it, and what I did understand by no means interested me. The
rain still drizzled, but I heeded it not, and was soon asleep.

"The sun was just appearing as I awoke. I made several efforts before I
could rise from the ground; my limbs were quite stiff, and my hair was
covered with rime, for the rain had ceased, and a rather severe frost set
in. I looked around me, but could see neither Antonio nor the Gipsies;
the animals of the latter had likewise disappeared, so had the horse
which I had hitherto rode; the mule, however, of Antonio still remained
fastened to the tree. The latter circumstance quieted some apprehensions
which were beginning to arise in my mind. 'They are gone on some
business of Egypt,' I said to myself, 'and will return anon.' I gathered
together the embers of the fire, and heaping upon them sticks and
branches, soon succeeded in calling forth a blaze, beside which I again
placed the puchero, with what remained of the provision of last night. I
waited for a considerable time in expectation of the return of my
companions, but as