HABITS OF THE SLOTH. 159 



so circumstanced before ; the creature could hardly 

 have coine there to drink, for the branches of the 

 trees dipped into the water, and afforded him a safe 

 and easy access. Be this as it may, his situation 

 was one of extreme difficulty ; for though the trees 

 were not more than twenty yards distant, he could 

 not make his way through the sand in time to 

 escape ; he therefore threw himself upon his back, 

 and offered a gallant defence with his fore-legs. 

 " Come, poor fellow," said the narrator to him, " if 

 thou hast got into an hobble to-day, thou shalt not 

 suffer for it ; I will take no advantage of thee in 

 thy misfortunes. The forest is large enough for thee 

 and me to rove in ; go thy ways up above and en- 

 joy thyself in these endless wilds : it is more than 

 probable that thou wilt never have another inter- 

 view with man, so fare thee well ! " On saying this, 

 "Waterton took up a long stick, held it out for him 

 to hook on, and then conveyed him to a high and 

 stately mora-tree. As soon as he came in contact 

 with a branch, all was right ; and the traveller could 

 plainly see, as he climbed up into his own country, 

 that he was in the right road to happiness. He 

 ascended with wonderful alacrity, and in about a mi- 

 nute had almost reached the topmost bough : he then 

 went off in a side direction, and caught hold of the 

 branch of a neighbouring tree, from which he pro- 

 ceeded towards the depth of the forest, while Water- 

 ton stood looking after him in astonishment at 

 his singular mode of travelling. He followed him 

 with his eye till the ' intervening branches closed 

 between them, and he lost for ever the sight of his 

 two-toed Sloth. The traveller was going to add, 



