egan to think that I had parted with my shoes too cheap,
and, for some time after, I sat myself down in a corner, and brooded in
melancholy mood over the misfortune which I had by my own folly brought
upon myself. But I was never one of the desponding kind; and it
therefore soon occurred to me, that, instead of indulging in dismal
reflections, it would be far wiser, and more pleasant, to devise some
means by which I might contrive to amuse myself during the period of my
confinement. Seven days and seven nights appeared to me at first to be a
long time to remain encaged in darkness; and yet there was certainly
something soldier-like in the situation. The mere fact of being a
prisoner had a military sound with it. To be sure, I was imprisoned for
having eaten my shoes; but what of that? Was it not quite as easy for
me to imagine myself a prisoner of war? Certainly it was; and
accordingly, with this impression strong on my mind, I dropped into a
profound sleep in the midst of my meditations, and dreamed that I was
deposited in this dungeon by the chance of war. On waking I found myself
extremely cold, from which I inferred that it would be necessary for me
to contrive some plan by which I might comfort my body as well as my
mind; and I therefore immediately set about standing on my head, walking
on my hands, tumbling head over heels, and similar gymnastic exercises.
In this manner, sleeping and playing by turns, I managed to pass my time
in the black-hole for one whole day and night, by no means unpleasantly;
when, about nine o'clock the next morning, I heard the well-known voice
of the drum-major asking for me, and desiring that I might be liberated.
On hearing this order given, I presumed that, of course, my period of
captivity had expired: and, although the time certainly appeared to have
passed off at a wonderfully rapid rate, yet I accounted for it by
considering that I had slept away the greater part of it; and, in
addition to this, that it was but natural it should seem to have passed
quickly, since I had been, during the whole period, exempt from parades,
drills, head-soaping, &c. When I first got into the daylight, I could
scarcely open my eyes; and, no sooner had I brought my optics into a
state to endure the light, than I was asked by the drum-major how I
liked my new abode, and if I was ready to return to it. I perceived,
from the smile which accompanied these questions, that I had little
further to fear, and I s