ility I could exert, and did not stop till I had reached the
summit. Never have I gone through so many adventures for the sake of a
mouthful of water; I had not even, as it were, had enough, so I
determined to keep down the stream for the rest of the day.

My clothes very quickly dried, which is not surprising, considering that
I had on only the remnants of my jacket, a shirt, and the upper part of
my trousers. The legs were bound round my feet. The water, had,
however, so much revived me that I began to feel a greater sensation of
hunger than I had before experienced. I had but one piece of my dried
duck left. I nibbled a bit as I walked on, keeping the remainder for
supper. On what I was to breakfast was a question which, if my powder
failed me, might be difficult to solve. Sometimes I lost sight of the
water, but quickly regained it, and ever and anon returned, where the
bank was practicable, to take a refreshing sip. As may be supposed, I
took care never to get out of the hearing of its pleasant sound. I did
not see the waterfall, and therefore concluded that I must have fallen
into the stream a short way below it.

Night was now again approaching. I looked about in every direction for
a spot in which I might pass it. At last I came upon a huge pine tree,
which had been struck by lightning and lay prostrate on the ground. The
centre part of the trunk was hollowed out something like a dug-out
canoe, and on examining it I bethought me that it would make a
peculiarly comfortable abode for the night. I therefore set to work to
clear out all the rubbish inside which might conceal any creatures, and
I then collected some large sheets of birch-bark which lay stripped off
some neighbouring trees. This I placed over the top to form a roof, and
a very comfortable sort of abode I considered that I had made. It was a
safe one also, I thought, for no snake was likely to climb into it, nor
was it probable that any wild animal would find me out. I now ate my
last piece of meat, and then went down to the river and took a hearty
draught of water, and felt far more invigorated than I had been for a
long time.

This done, I returned to my hollow tree, crept in, drew the sheets of
birch-bark over me, and went comfortably to sleep. Oh, how I did enjoy
that sleep! I felt so much more secure than I had ever been at night
since I commenced my wanderings. I awoke in the middle of the night,
but it was to turn myself rou