THE SLOTH. 91 



the place, the branches touched the water, and afforded 

 him an easy and safe access to it. Be this as it may, 

 though the trees were not above twenty yards from him^ 

 he could not make his way through the sand time enough 

 to escape before we landed. As soon as we got up to him, 

 he threw himself on his back, and defended himself in gal- 

 lant style with his fore legs. ' Come, poor fellow,' said I 

 to him, ' if thou hast got into a hobble to-day, thou shalt 

 not suffer for it : I'll take no advantage of thee in misfor- 

 tune ; the forest is large enough both for thee and me to 

 rove in : go thy ways up above, and enjoy thyself in these 

 endless wilds ; it is more than probable thou wilt never 

 have another interview with man.' On saying this, I took 

 up a large stick which was lying there, held it for him to 

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

 mora. He ascended with wonderful rapidity, and in 

 about a minute he was almost at the top of the tree. He 

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

 branch of a neighboring tree ; he then proceeded towards 

 the heart of the forest ; I stood looking on, lost in amaze- 

 ment at his singular mode of progress. I followed him 

 with my eye till the intervening branches closed in betwixt 

 us ; and then I lost sight for ever of the two-toed Sloth. I 

 was going to add, that I never saw a Sloth take to his heels 

 in such earnest ; but the expression will riot do, for the 

 Sloth has no heels." 



