226 SLIDES DOWN THE ROCKS. CHAP. xi. 



declivity, be the consequences what they might. 

 Accordingly, I unloosed the gun from its place on my 

 back, and having taken my garters, which were very 

 long, from my legs, I tied them together, then at- 

 tached one end of them to the gun, and holding the 

 other end in my hand, I dropped it as far as the string 

 would allow, and then letting go, I heard the gun clash 

 to the bottom. I next took the two napkins, which 

 had bound the gun to my back, and wound them round 

 my head, in order to save it as much as possible 

 from the edges of the rocks. I then stretched myself 

 upon the rocky slope, with my feet downwards, and 

 was ready for the descent, when, repenting, I would 

 again have drawn myself up. But the scanty herbage 

 which I held by gave way, and I was hurled down, 

 whether I would or no, and with such violence that, 

 on landing amongst the rocks, I became quite uncon- 

 scious. 



" On recovering, I found myself lying at the foot 

 of the cliff, sick and very sore. I found that I had 

 bled profusely from the nose and one of my ears. 

 My first impulse, on recovering, was to move my 

 limbs to ascertain if any of them were broken, when, 

 to my inexpressible joy and thankfulness, I found 

 them whole, though somewhat benumbed. Becom- 

 ing thirsty, and observing a pool of water at a short 

 distance, I attempted to rise, but my spine pained 

 me so much that I was obliged to lie down again, 

 without being able to reach the desired spot. The 



