th which this strange man had encompassed the path
of the trespasser, and gain an entrance to the house. I sought the
seclusion of my room at once, and thought over the result of my
investigations. I had not written to my good friend in London since my
arrival in Ogdensburg, and I concluded not to do so until I could give
him definite information.

Late in the afternoon a slow, drizzling rain began to pour down, and
when night fell every luminary in the heavens was obscured by thick
clouds. It was a favorable time for carrying out my project, as the
darkness was intensified by a fog that had settled over the city. By
the light of my lamp I prepared for the undertaking, in such a state of
excitement that I was frequently startled by my own whispers, through
which I found myself now and then giving involuntary utterance to my
thoughts. Cutting up a pair of boots which I carried in my box, I wound
my legs in leather from my ankles up above my knees, carefully drawing
on a pair of thick, long stockings to hold it in place. This precaution
would give me a comfortable sense of security, even if there were no
snakes to fear. I felt sure that the lion, if he were still living,
would be kept in some place of confinement.

It was long past bedtime, and the lights were out in every shop and
dwelling, when I started on my daring mission. The little lamps that
glared through the fog at the street corners could scarcely be seen
twenty feet away. I was so preoccupied that I frequently lost my
direction in the mud and darkness. It seemed as if I had been traveling
for hours, when at last I felt the big wall, and saw its dim bulk rising
above me and stretching away into the night. Cautiously I groped along
its base until my hands felt the iron bars of the gate. Then I stood for
some moments leaning against them, quite out of breath. They were cold
and wet, and chilled me to a shiver when I touched them. I peered toward
the house but could see nothing. I listened, but could hear nothing
except the beating of my own heart and the mournful sound of the pines
whose loftier branches were stirring in the still air. Grasping the
heavy bars I tried to climb the gate, but, as there were no projections
on which it was possible to get a foothold, I found this an exhausting
and difficult task. I climbed repeatedly several feet above the earth,
only to lose my foothold and slide down again. Finally, by exerting all
my strength, I succeeded in suppo