348 Thirty Years 



protected by a blanket, produced soreness over the 

 body, and especially those parts on which the weight 

 rested in lying, yet to turn ourselves for relief was a 

 matter of toil and difficulty. However, during this 

 • period, and indeed all along after the acute pains of 

 hunger, which lasted but three or four days, had sub- 

 sided, w r e generally enjoyed the comfort of a few hours' 

 sleep. The dreams which for the most part, but not 

 always accompanied it, were usually (though not in- 

 variably,) of a pleasant character, being very often 

 about the enjoyments of feasting. In the day-time 

 we fell into the practice of conversing on common and 

 light subjects, although we sometimes discussed with 

 seriousness and earnestness topics connected with reli- 

 gion. We generally avoided speaking directly of our 

 present sufferings, or even of the prospeot of relief. I 

 observed, that in proportion as our strength decayed, 

 our minds exhibited symptoms of weakness, evinced by 

 a kind of unreasonable pettishness with each other. 

 Each of us thought the other weaker in intellect than 

 himself, and more in need of advice and assistance. 

 So trilling a circumstance as a change of place re- 

 commended by one as being warmer and more comfort- 

 able, and refused by the other from a dread of motion, 

 frequently called forth fretful expressions which were 

 no sooner uttered than atoned for, to be repeated per- 

 haps in the COUrseofa few minutes. The Name thing 



