A FALL. 7 



and my poor companions were even in a worse plight. 

 Had I been alone, with no one to consider but myself, 

 the sheltered side of a rock or boulder would have 

 afforded sufficient protection to enable me to get 

 through the night ; but my faithful followers had to 

 be considered, for a night on the exposed mountain- 

 side would probably have cost them their lives : 

 therefore I had no alternative but to push forward, 

 with the hope that fortune would favour us. 



But a few minutes more and the sun would dip 

 the horizon, and in an hour all would be enveloped 

 in utter darkness ; yet far as I could see, looking to 

 every point of the compass, nothing greeted my vision 

 but an ocean of sterile hills. As we continued our 

 journey, stumble followed stumble ; and at length 

 my exclamation of ' Hold up !' was unavailing. The 

 poor mare, that I loved as well, ay, and far better, 

 than many I know of my own kith and kin after 

 making violent efforts to recover herself, gathering 

 speed as she advanced, fell with fearful force down 

 a drop of many feet, and disappeared from my soli- 

 citous gaze. In a few moments I was at her side. 

 She had not risen, and, only that she did not 

 struggle, I should have felt convinced that some of 

 her limbs were broken : but I was spared such a trial ; 

 only a little of her hide was lost, and after a few 

 efforts I had her again upon her pins. 



' Out of evil cometh good/ is a proverb which, in 

 this instance, proved correct, for in seeking an open- 

 ing by which the animal might ascend to my old 



