ho were
willing to go, and to persuade people to go, who were not willing. He
very readily answered, and told me, it was his business to guide any
thither who were willing to go; and if I would comply with his terms,
and follow him, he would lead me thither. I asked him what his terms
were. He said the way was long, and would lead him from home, and I
must bear his charges, and something over, to all of which I agreed.

So we set forward on our journey, early in the morning; but before
we had gone one whole day's journey, I saw my guide sometimes stand
still, and look about him, and sometimes he would pull a little book
out of his pocket, and read a little to himself; which made me begin
to mistrust that he knew the way no better than I. However, I said
nothing; but went on following him several days journey after this
manner; and the farther we went, the more my guide was at a loss.
Sometimes he went a little on, and then would look about him, and turn
another way, and sometimes right back again for a while, and then turn
again. So my suspicions grew very strong, and I began to be in great
anxiety of spirit, but said little to him about it.

[Illustration: These books I got, and read them over and over; which
did much strengthen my belief in the truth of the reports: yet by no
means could I tell which was my way.]

But one day, as we were travelling along, we met with a man that took
notice of my sad countenance and tired condition. And he spake very
kindly to me; "Young man," said he, "whither art thou bound?" And when
I began to tell him something of my travel, he desired me to sit down
upon the grass, in a shady place, and discourse a little about my
journey: and so we did, and I told him how things had gone with me
to that very hour. Whilst I was telling him my story, my guide fell
asleep; at which I was not sorry, for thereby I had the more freedom
to discourse with the man; and when I had told him all, he pitied me;
and withal, told me, to his certain knowledge, this guide of mine had
never been at the house, neither did he know the way to it, but as
he had got some marks of the way, which he had received, as I or any
other may do; and, if I followed him all my days, I should be never
the nearer to it, and should find at last, I had spent my time, money
and labour to no purpose.

This discourse did so astonish me, that I was at my wits end, and did
not know what course to take. The man seeing what an agony I