ground rose, was not very distant. Confident in the general
correctness of my direction, I went on, right ahead, fancying I had
only to cross this upland to be at home; but after floundering about
for a good half-hour, and, in consequence of a water-course which cut
it obliquely, being turned a little out of my straight direction, I
found myself by moonlight on the verge of a patch of forest which was
quite unknown to me. Such was my infatuation, however, and so firm my
conviction of having taken correctly the relative bearings of the
moon, which was now in her second quarter, and of the house, that I
plunged unhesitatingly among the trees, expecting every moment to see
the path through them open out upon some familiar spot in the demesne,
or some portion of the surrounding country which I might have already
perambulated by daylight. Though in utter darkness, from the close
interweaving of the foliage, still, by raising my feet high, like a
blind horse, to get over the inequalities of the way, and flourishing
my stick perpetually around my head as I proceeded, to avoid coming in
contact with any stray tree, or chance branch projecting into the
pathway, I got prosperously through this portion of wood. But again I
came out on something which was totally strange to me--a narrow
valley, stretching, as well as I could judge by the last glimmerings
of twilight, to a considerable distance, flanked on each side by
gloomy woods, about a quarter of a mile apart, and laid down in rye,
which was nearly ready for the sickle, and dripping wet in the
night-dew. Matters now began to look serious. I was completely at
fault, and had entirely lost all confidence in my own pilotage. The
moon had proved a faithless guide, or rather I had misconstrued her
position; and my little pocket-compass was not forthcoming, thanks to
the importunities of my youngest boy, who prizes it above all his own
toys.

There was nothing for it now but to select that direction towards
which the valley might seem slightly to descend; but this, in the
imperfect twilight, was not very easily ascertained. With considerable
hesitation, I decided at length on the right-hand turn, resolving to
proceed till I should fall in with some rivulet, which might perhaps
lead me eventually to the rapid trouting-stream running close under my
friend's windows, or else till I should come upon some path which
might carry me into a field-road, and so perhaps to a village, where I