n, as he realized his
position, he strove madly to rise and straighten the afflicted limb.
He was so far successful that he managed to stand, and in the fantastic
appearance of a human snail, to shuffle slowly round the kitchen.
At first he thought only of the cramp, but after that had yielded to
treatment a wild idea of escape occurred to him. Still bowed with the
chair, he made his way to the door, and, after two or three attempts,
got the latch in his mouth and opened it. Within five minutes he had
shuffled his way through the garden gate, which was fortunately open,
and reached the road.

The exertion was so laborious that he sat down again upon his portable
seat and reckoned up his chances. Fear lent him wings, though of a
very elementary type, and as soon as he judged he was out of earshot he
backed up against a tree and vigorously banged the chair against it.

He shed one cracked hind leg in this way, and the next time he sat down
had to perform feats of balancing not unworthy of Blondin himself.

Until day broke did this persecuted man toil painfully along with the
chair, and the sun rose and found him sitting carefully in the middle
of the road, faintly anathematizing Captain Gething and everything
connected with him. He was startled by the sound of footsteps rapidly
approaching him, and, being unable to turn his head, he rose painfully
to his feet and faced about bodily.

The new-comer stopped abruptly, and, gazing in astonishment at the
extraordinary combination of man and chair before him, retired a few
paces in disorder. At a little distance he had mistaken the cook for
a lover of nature, communing with it at his ease; now he was undecided
whether it was a monstrosity or an apparition.

"Mornin', mate," said the cook in a weary voice.

"Morning," said the man, backing still more.

"I 'spose," said the cook, trying to smile cheerfully, "you're surprised
to see me like this?"

"I've never seen anything like it afore," said the man guardedly.

"I don't s'pose you 'ave," said the cook. "I'm the only man in England
that can do it."

The man said he could quite believe it.

"I'm doin' it for a bet," said the cook.

"Oh-h," said the man, his countenance clearing, "a bet. I thought you
were mad. How much is it?"

"Fifty pounds," said the cook. "I've come all the way from London like
this."

"Well, I'm blest!" said the man. "What won't they think of next! Got
much farther to go?"

"Oakville," sai