BIOGRAPHY. - 7 



bolt into a very extensive labyrinth of yew and holly 

 trees close at hand. It was the chosen place for animated 

 nature. Birds, in particular, used to frequent the spacious 

 enclosure, both to obtain food and enjoy security. Many 

 a time have I hunted the foumart and the squirrel. I 

 once took a cut through it to a neighbouring wood, 

 where I knew of a carrion-crow's nest. The prefect missed 

 me; and judging that I had gone into the labyrinth, he 

 gave chase without loss of time. After eluding him in 

 cover for nearly half an hour, being hard pressed, I took 

 away down a hedgerow. 



*' Here (as I learned afterwards) he got a distant sight 

 of me j but it was not sufficiently distinct for him to know 

 to a certainty that I was the fugitive. I luckily succeeded 

 in reaching the outbuildings which abutted on the college, 

 and lay at a considerable distance from the place where 

 I had first started. I had just time to enter the postern 

 gate of a pigsty, when, most opportunely, I found old Joe 

 Bowren, the brewer, bringing straw into the sty. He was 

 more attached to me than to any other boy, for I had 

 known him when I was at school in the North, and had 

 made him a present of a very fine terrier. 



" ' I've just saved myself, Joe/ said I ; ' cover me up 

 with litter.' 



"He had hardly complied with my request, when in 

 bounced the prefect by the same gate through which I had 

 entered. 



" ' Have you seen Charles Waterton ? ' said he, quite out 

 of breath. 



" My trusty guardian answered, in a tone of voice 

 which would have deceived anybody, ' Sir, I have not 

 spoken a word to Charles Waterton these three days, to 

 the best of my knowledge.' 



" Upon this, the prefect, having lost all scent of me, 



