Paul de Walbw g, 421 



unclosing the latticed leaves. The creak which they sent forth went 

 to my very soul : but it was with no ordinary speed that I darted 

 across the terrace, and sought means of descending to the ground 

 beneath. I was now in the open air, and seemed to feel that half of 

 my escape was accomplished. A large tree, the branches of which 

 partly swept the place on which I stood fortunately by no means 

 elevated enabled me to swing securely down ; and I now could 

 pursue my way through the darkness without material interruption. 



I darted forward, imagining that if even immediately pursued, the 

 thickets would sufficiently conceal me. What assistance would my 

 faithful steed have been at this moment, could I have found the 

 rough and meagre road by which I had come ! such ruminations 

 were idle ; he was secure enough in the stable. To my inexpressible 

 satisfaction, the thunder which I had before heard was the precursor 

 of a violent storm. The wind had risen fast, and brought the cloud3 

 over the horizon. The rain fell in torrents, pattering among the 

 leaves with a noise that sufficiently convinced me my route could not 

 be traced by ear ; the wind thundered loudly through the forest, in 

 alternations so capricious that any pursuer would be misled; and 

 the lightning, that quivered generally at long intervals, served only 

 to disclose the beating hail and the waving foliage. Meantime, I 

 ran on as fast as was practicable, quite in a random direction, tjiink- 

 ing to get sooner into the open country, than by the deserted way I 

 came. The storm, after continuing with its pristine vigour for about 

 an hour, gradually declined ; and when morning broke, I had, as 

 nearly as I could guess, advanced about five or six miles. 



Satisfied that I had now carried myself beyond the reach of any imme- 

 diate danger, I began to breathe more freely, and look about me, in 

 order to ascertain if I could recognise any of the objects which 

 had guided me on the preceding evening. Taking " : a survey of 

 what was in my neighbourhood, I had the pleasure of perceiving a 

 small hamlet, to which I immediately directed my steps. I soon 

 found a wretched alehouse, which I entered, with the intention of 

 seeking some little refreshment. I was received by the landlord and 

 his wife, very mean in their appearance, but not otherwise suspicious. 

 I did not know how far these people might be connected or acquaint- 

 ed with Walberg and his gang, and, therefore, was extremely guarded 

 in my communications. I suppressed altogether an account of what 

 had befallen me, and merely declared that I had lost my way in the 

 forest, in the darkness of the night ; and that my horse, frightened at 

 the lightning, had refused to proceed ; that, startled by a heavy clap 

 of thunder, just as I had dismounted, he slipped the reins from my 

 hand, and broke wildly away ; and that I had worked my way through 

 the storm, hoping to find some shelter, and a knowledge of where I 

 had strayed, till the light of morning disclosed the hamlet, and directed 

 me to the auberge. I finished by requesting the loan of a horse, en- 

 gaging to leave it at the next post town, and offering to place in their 

 hands its value as a deposit. 



My last argument was an effectual one ; and the landlord proposed 

 that I should take an animal of his own, which, on production, cer- 

 tainly did little credit to his eulogies. Naming a price, which was 

 considerably above its value, and which I immediately put into his 



