with less perception in them than before, looked
forward, and, muttering something about woodlands, I placed myself in an
easier posture than I had hitherto done, and fairly fell asleep.

How long I continued in that state I am unable to say, but I believe for
a considerable time; I was suddenly awakened by the ceasing of the
jolting to which I had become accustomed, and of which I was perfectly
sensible in my sleep. I started up and looked around me, the moon was
still shining, and the face of the heaven was studded with stars; I found
myself amidst a haze of bushes of various kinds, but principally hazel
and holly, through which was a path or driftway with grass growing on
either side, upon which the pony was already diligently browsing. I
conjectured that this place had been one of the haunts of his former
master, and, on dismounting and looking about, was strengthened in that
opinion by finding a spot under an ash tree which, from its burnt and
blackened appearance, seemed to have been frequently used as a
fire-place. I will take up my quarters here, thought I; it is an
excellent spot for me to commence my new profession in; I was quite right
to trust myself to the guidance of the pony. Unharnessing the animal
without delay, I permitted him to browse at free will on the grass,
convinced that he would not wander far from a place to which he was so
much attached; I then pitched the little tent close beside the ash tree
to which I have alluded, and conveyed two or three articles into it, and
instantly felt that I had commenced housekeeping for the first time in my
life. Housekeeping, however, without a fire is a very sorry affair,
something like the housekeeping of children in their toy houses; of this
I was the more sensible from feeling very cold and shivering, owing to my
late exposure to the rain, and sleeping in the night air. Collecting,
therefore, all the dry sticks and furze I could find, I placed them upon
the fire-place, adding certain chips and a billet which I found in the
cart, it having apparently been the habit of Slingsby to carry with him a
small store of fuel. Having then struck a spark in a tinder-box and
lighted a match, I set fire to the combustible heap, and was not slow in
raising a cheerful blaze; I then drew my cart near the fire, and, seating
myself on one of the shafts, hung over the warmth with feelings of
intense pleasure and satisfaction. Having continued in the posture for a
consid