his bridle to
rest upon the neck of the docile beast, he coursed about on all sides,
looking close to the earth in hopes to find some ancient traces of a
pathway. But his search was vain. His anxieties increased. The sunlight
was growing fainter and fainter; and, in spite of the reckless manner,
which he still wore, you might see a lurking and growing anxiety in his
quick and restless eye. He was vexed with himself that he had suffered
his wits to let fall his reins; and his disquiet was but imperfectly
concealed under the careless gesture and rather philosophic swing of his
graceful person, as, plying his silent way, through clumps of brush, and
bush, and tree, he vainly peered along the earth for the missing traces
of the route. He looked up for the openings in the tree-tops--he looked
west, at the rapidly speeding sun, and shook his head at his horse.
Though bold of heart, no doubt, and tolerably well aware of the usual
backwoods mode of procedure in all such cases of embarrassment, our
traveller had been too gently nurtured to affect a lodge in the
wilderness that night--its very "vast contiguity of shade" being
anything but attractive in his present mood. No doubt, he could have
borne the necessity as well as any other man, but still he held it a
necessity to be avoided if possible. He had, we are fain to confess, but
small passion for that "grassy couch," and "leafy bower," and those
other rural felicities, of which your city poets, who lie snug in
garrets, are so prone to sing; and always gave the most unromantic
preference to comfortable lodgings and a good roof; so, persevering in
his search after the pathway, while any prospect of success remained, he
circled about until equally hopeless and fatigued; then, remounted his
steed, and throwing the bridle upon his neck, with something of the
indifference of despair, he plied his spurs, suffering the animal to
adopt his own course, which we shall see was nevertheless interrupted by
the appearance of another party upon the scene, whose introduction we
reserve for another chapter.

CHAPTER II.

THE ENCOUNTER--THE CHEVALIER D'INDUSTRIE.

Thus left to himself, the good steed of our traveller set off, without
hesitation, and with a free step, that promised, at least, to overcome
space hurriedly, if it attained not the desired destination. The rider
did not suffer any of his own doubts to mar a progress so confidently
begun; and a few minutes carried the twai