se, to subsist on the following day, when I
intended to be in light marching order to follow the soldiers. Having
thus prudently provided in some degree for the future, I betook myself
to my usual occupations; but I had not commenced work more than five
minutes, when I espied my master reconnoitring me from behind a hedge.
Presently he crossed a stile with a large whip in his hand; and I could
discern, from his artful movements, that it was his intention to come
upon me unperceived. Now and then, in order that my fears might not be
excited, he would stoop down and pull a turnip; but I was too good a
soldier myself to be out-generalled in this manner. I stood from my
work, the better to observe the enemy's movements, and kept my eye upon
the fugleman. At last, I saw him make preparations to arrange his whip;
so I immediately arranged my legs for a start. "Every step that he now
takes," thought I to myself, "is a step nearer to my back; whereas, now
that I have ten yards' start, there is still a chance for me." My master
perceived that I was ready for a bolt, and soon broke from slow time
into quick, and from quick to double quick, which put me to the charge,
my master following me--swearing, threatening, and roaring out, "Stop
him! stop him!" a second time. I turned round to look who was likely to
stop me, when my foot came in contact with a large clod, and I tumbled
heels over head. Here the chase ended; for my tyrant caught hold of me
by a smock-frock which I had on, and commenced flogging me; but, from
the race I had given him, I found he was so winded, that he had not
strength left to hurt me much; so I "showed fight" at once, by seizing
hold of the lash of the whip. This so enraged him, that he threw me from
him with such violence, that one side of the smock-frock and I parted
company, and I had just sufficient time left me to get up again and make
my escape, which I did, leaving my master, as a token of my unalterable
affection, the one side of my upper garment. Let it be his
winding-sheet, for he was a cruel monster!

The remaining half of my smock-frock I stuck in a hedge in the same
field, as a further token of my regard, and as a proof of my anxiety to
leave him all I could spare. I then made a movement towards the town, in
the hope that I should see the colonel, but he was not to be found; and
I went from public-house to public-house, in search of the soldiers,
till night began to unfold her sombre mantle, whic