h was as gloomy as my
poor little friendless bosom. Go home I dared not; so, after wandering
about the farmer's house, I at last got into the stable, and slept all
night in the hay-loft, dreaming I was a general, and riding over the
battle's plain. Here I slept as sound as a dead soldier, until I was
awoke in the morning by the gruff voice of my master, inquiring if they
had seen anything of me, and protesting that, whenever he caught me, he
would skin me alive. "Bob" (one of his men), he bellowed out, "saddle
that there old horse, Corporal Dash, and I'll go and see where he is;
and, if I catches him, I'll put him in the stocks, and see if that can't
cool his courage for him. He is the most tarnationest and outdationest
lad I have ever seen: it was only the day before yesterday that I
catched him riding the old sow, Polly, with a pitchfork, and singing
out, 'Victory! victory!' but I'll see if the stocks won't cool him." The
old corporal was saddled accordingly, and led out. I could distinctly
see him through a small hole in the loft, and he trotted off towards the
market-place. I now began to think what place was best and safest for
me. Skinning alive I could not bear the thoughts of; and, as to the
stocks, it is true they might have cooled me, for it was freezing hard,
and as bitter a morning as ever blew from the heavens; but there was
nothing soldier-like in the situation, and the thoughts of such a
position were not to be endured.

As soon as Bob had left the place to go to his work, I began to form
plans for my retreat. Resolved, for the present, to act on the
defensive, I first reconnoitred the course, to see that the enemy was
not lying in ambush for me, or lurking in the vicinity of my
hiding-place. Finding all clear, I descended to the stable, and soon
gained the road. Having passed through the barn-yard and orchard, I
peeped in at the farmhouse, but could not catch a glimpse of my kind
mistress. My bread and cheese I had eaten the preceding evening, and my
stomach began now to evince symptoms of mutinous commotion; but the fear
of falling again into the hands of my merciless enemy prevailed over all
other considerations, and, in an adjoining field, I regaled myself very
contentedly on a turnip. I had just concluded that sumptuous repast, and
was beginning to reflect seriously on the situation in which I had
placed myself, when the band struck up that beautiful old melody, "The
girl I left behind me." This was