that repose of which I was beginning to feel the need. I therefore
turned off the road and plunged into the forest for about a quarter of a
mile, when I came upon a dense and almost impenetrable thicket which
seemed admirably suited to my purpose; I accordingly forced my way into
it until I found a spot of clear ground wide enough to stretch myself
upon comfortably, when flinging myself upon the turf, and placing my bag
beneath my head, I almost immediately dropped off into a deep and
dreamless slumber.

It was just three o'clock in the afternoon when I awoke. My somewhat
unwonted exertions of the previous night had greatly fatigued me, and I
should probably have slept on until darkness had once more returned, had
it not been for a wandering sun-ray which had found its way through the
branches overhead, and, shining directly in my face, had awakened me. I
awoke stiff, ravenously hungry, and parched with thirst. I had had the
forethought to provide against an inopportune attack of the former
feeling, by putting a biscuit or two in my pocket; but in the excitement
of coming away I had omitted--as I now found to my chagrin--to bring my
flask with me. I accordingly brought out my biscuits, and endeavoured
to make a meal of them alone, but they were, like all biscuits, dry, and
my throat was so parched that I found I could scarcely swallow a
mouthful. While struggling with this little difficulty a faint breeze
brought to my ear a sound which I decided must be the rushing of a
distant stream over its rocky bed, and thinking of nothing at the moment
so much as my intense thirst, I sprang to my feet, and seizing my bag,
set out in the direction from which the sound appeared to come.

My progress was anything but rapid, the ground being entirely overgrown
with creepers and thick shrubs, but that I was proceeding in the right
direction was satisfactorily demonstrated by the increasing distinctness
with which I could hear the sound of the rushing water.

My exertions in the close and stifling atmosphere of the wood soon made
me uncomfortably warm, at the same time increasing my thirst to an
almost unbearable degree, but there was nothing for it but patience, so
I pushed on, panting and perspiring, as rapidly as it was possible for
me to get over the ground. As I continued to advance, the sound
increased in volume, though it still appeared to come from a
considerable distance, and I at length came to the conclusion that it