was left alone, and then, in despair,
he resorted to the "authorities" as he termed his books, and read till
the inmates of the hennery began to sound the morning call.

Richard did not come down stairs the next morning till nine o'clock,
when Mr. Grant and uncle Obed had both gone to the city. He was so
stiff that he could hardly walk; but he had washed himself clean, and
thrown aside the soiled garments he had worn on the expedition.

Already the story of Richard's wonderful doings in his sleep had been
circulated all over the estate, and when he limped into the breakfast
room, every body supposed he was suffering from the injuries he had
received during his nocturnal ramble. Mr. Presby, whose researches were
not yet completed, had taken pains to tell the people of the house,
that somnambulists were peculiarly sensitive in regard to their
involuntary rambles, and, very much to the surprise of Richard, no one
even alluded to the events of the night.

There was upon the faces and in the actions of all with whom he came in
contact, an expression of abundant sympathy. He was treated with
increased kindness and consideration by the family and by the servants.
When he had eaten his breakfast, the thought occurred to him that
something which might betray him had been left on the Greyhound, and he
hastened down to the pier to remove any such evidence.

As he passed the boat house he heard the voices of Mr. Presby and Ben
in the building. The former had by no means slept off his enthusiasm in
the cause of science; and as soon as the dew was off the grass, he
commenced exploring the premises, in search of any appearances that
might throw new light upon the conduct of the "poor boy" during his
midnight ramble. He recalled the dirty and foul condition of the
patient when discovered in his room, and he examined all the vile and
filthy places in the neighborhood, for the marks of some terrible
struggle that might have taken place between the sleep-walker, and any
real or imaginary demon.

The patient seeker after the hidden truths of science had been to the
pigsty, to learn whether he had been wrestling with the pigs; he had
looked into the cow yard, the horse stables, and the dog kennels for
information upon the dark subject; he had patiently explored the
cornfield and the potato patch, and every dirty hole he could find; but
not a single fact or hint could he obtain to assist him in solving the
difficult problem.

In the