arry was to set foot once more upon the
firm earth--not with the permission of the captain, though: for fearing
they might keep him on the ship all the time, in the dusk of the evening
he slid down a rope that was hanging over the side, and, scrambling on
shore without being seen, made the best possible use of his heels.

"Liberty is a very fine thing; but some other things are wanted besides
to make it perfect--dinner, for instance, and a house containing a
comfortable bed to sleep in.

"Harry was not much afraid at first at finding himself in a savage
country, alone and unprotected. To the heedless, whatever is new is
charming.

"It was now bright moonlight, serene and still. Harry, exhausted and
tired with his flight, lay down on the luxuriant grass.

"At home, lying down in such a bed would have given him so severe a cold
in his head, that he would have nearly sneezed and snuffled it off. Not
so in Senegal. Still there were other inconveniences, for Harry had not
rested for five minutes, when he heard a stealthy footstep; his heart
began to beat. He had learned in his Geography that Senegal was full of
wild beasts, as well as the sugar plums the treacherous sailor talked
about. He began to wish he had staid in the ship; but if he returned,
there was Jack Bowsprit, and there was SUSAN as sure as a gun. It is no
doubt very disagreeable to be devoured by wild beasts; but then again it
is very painful to be beaten by a Susan. Harry was sure of the beating
if he returned, and he was not quite sure of being eaten up if he
remained; so he concluded to stay.

"While he was cogitating all these things, he heard again the same
stealthy tread; and, in a moment, he saw in the bright moonlight a
jackal, about the size of a big dog.

"Our heedless Harry was without weapons of defence, but he was by no
means without courage. Up he sprang, seized a large stone, and flung it
at the jackal; at almost the same instant the wild beast leaped at him
and bit his leg.

"Both gave a howl of pain at the same moment. Happily, Harry was not
much hurt; while the jackal, with another cry, lay dead at his feet.

"Harry gazed at his fallen enemy, his heart beating with excitement; he
could not help thinking that if any thing a quarter as bad had happened
to him at home, his kind mother could not have found caresses and
court-plaster enough to console him; and here he was, alone, and
wounded. He went to a stream near by, and washed and tie