Florida Episode, 223 



agined that he had walked with more than usual speed, 

 and had passed the place to which he was bound. He 

 accordingly turned his back upon the sun, and pursued a 

 different route, guided by a small trail. Time passed, and 

 the sun headed his course ; he saw it gradually descend 

 in the west, but all around him continued as if enveloped 

 with mystery. The huge gray trees spread their giant 

 boughs over him, the rank grass extended on all sides, 

 not a living being crossed his path j all was silent and 

 still, and the scene was like a dull and dreary dream of 

 the land of oblivion. He wandered like a forgotten ghost 

 that had passed into the land of spirits, without yet meet- 

 ing one of his kind with whom to hold converse. 



" The condition of a man lost in the woods is one of 

 the most perplexing that could be imagined by a person 

 who has not himself been in a like predicament. Every 

 object he sees he at first thinks he recognizes ; and while 

 his whole mind is bent on searching for more that may 

 gradually lead to his extrication, he goes on committing 

 greater errors the farther he proceeds. This was the case 

 with the live oaker. The sun was now setting with a fiery 

 aspect, and by degrees it sunk in its full circular form, as 

 if giving warning of a sultry to-morrow. Myriads of in- 

 sects, delighted at its departure, now filled the air on buzz- 

 ing wings. Each piping frog arose from the muddy pool 

 in which it had concealed itself, the squirrel retired to its 

 hole, the crow to its roost, and, far above, the harsh croak- 

 ing voice of the heron announced that, full of anxiety, it 

 was wending its way to the miry interior of some distant 

 swamp. Now the woods began to resound to the shrill 

 cries of the owl and the breeze, as it swept among the 

 columnar stems of the forest trees, laden with heavy and 

 chilling dew. Alas ! no moon, with her silvery light, 

 shone on the dreary scene, and the losi one, wearied and 

 vexed, laid himself down on the damp ground. Prayer 



