back; so I set out as soon as I possibly could, but just as I
had reached the heath, the evening grew extremely dark.

_Tommy._--And were not you frightened to find yourself all alone upon
such a dismal place?

_Harry._--No; I knew the worst that could happen would be that I should
stay there all night, and as soon as ever the morning shone, I should
have found my way home. But, however, by the time that I had reached the
middle of the heath, there came on such a violent tempest of wind,
blowing full in my face, accompanied with such a shower, that I found it
impossible to continue my way. So I quitted the track, which is never
very easy to find, and ran aside to a holly-bush that was growing at
some distance, in order to seek a little shelter. Here, I lay, very
conveniently, till the storm was almost over; then I rose and attempted
to continue my way, but unfortunately I missed the track, and lost
myself.

_Tommy._--That was a very dismal thing indeed.

_Harry._--I wandered about a great while, but still to no purpose. I had
not a single mark to direct me, because the common is so extensive, and
so bare either of trees or houses, that one may walk for miles and see
nothing but heath and furze. Sometimes I tore my legs in scrambling
through great thickets of furze; now and then I plumped into a hole full
of water, and should have been drowned if I had not learned to swim; so
that at last I was going to give it up in despair, when, looking on one
side, I saw a light at a little distance, which seemed to be a candle
and lantern that somebody was carrying across the moor.

_Tommy._--Did not that give you very great comfort?

"You shall hear," answered Harry, smiling. "At first I was doubtful
whether I should go up to it; but I considered that it was not worth
anybody's pains to hurt a poor boy like me, and that no person who was
out on any ill design, would probably choose to carry a light. So I
determined boldly to go up to it, and inquire the way."

_Tommy._--And did the person with the candle and lantern direct you?

_Harry._--I began walking up towards it, when immediately the light,
which I had first observed on my right hand, moving slowly along by my
side, changed its direction, and went directly before me, with about the
same degree of swiftness. I thought this very odd; but I still continued
the chase, and just as I thought I had approached very near, I tumbled
into another pit full of water.

_Tommy._-