g the banks of the stream we
had waded through. We then dried our clothes, and lay down to rest in
a tent hastily constructed of reeds. Want of sleep, and the great
fatigue we had undergone, soon closed our eyes, and we slept soundly.
After a few hours I awoke, and found the hut so uncomfortably hot that
I went out into the open air. I leaned against a tree which grew near
by, and thought over our probable fate. The sublime picture of nature
first attracted my attention. The sky was clear, but below us and
among the mountains rolled dark masses of clouds; it was most
probably raining in the valleys. The snow which lay on the mountains
glittered brightly in the distance, and never before had I seen the
stars shine forth so clearly as they did on that night. A death-like
silence prevailed, or was broken only by the sighing of the breeze as
it swept softly by. But the beauty and sublimity of this spectacle
suddenly vanished, as the thoughts of our situation came thronging
upon me, clothed with the most fearful shapes. Six men on one of the
highest of the Japanese mountains, without sufficient food, clothing,
or even weapons to defend themselves from the attacks of wild animals;
possessing neither knowledge nor ability to construct any kind of a
vessel in which they might escape, and one of them, moreover, with a
wounded leg, which at every step, pained him dreadfully. When I
thought of this, our helpless position, my feelings bordered on
despair. Whilst I was occupied with these sad thoughts, some of my
companions awoke, and their sighs and prayers affected me so deeply
that I forgot myself, and shed scalding tears. In this way an hour
passed by, but the cold night air finally forced me to seek shelter in
the hut, where I lay down, but not to sleep.

VIII.

As the road over these high mountains was filled with difficulties and
danger, we now determined to direct our steps towards the coast,
creeping along during the day and hiding by night in the woods and
among the hills. As we were descending from the heights we suddenly
caught sight of some mounted soldiers, who were on the same road
which we were travelling, and coming directly towards us. We
immediately crept into a hollow, and hid among some bushes. The
soldiers, fortunately, rode by without perceiving us, but we now saw
plainly enough how vigilant our pursuers were. We grew bolder,
however, and on the following night, passed through a village, in
order to take