36 FELLOW-FEELING. 



nent portion of my figure puddles which from the 

 influx and egress of fresh liquid were not permitted 

 to get warm I fear I uttered a malediction against 

 mountainous countries in general and this one in 

 particular. 



It is often a great consolation to our wounded 

 feelings to know that there are others as painfully 

 situated as ourselves. Whether this is a Christian 

 sentiment or not, it is certainly one by no means 

 uncommon among Christians. On a knoll not a 

 hundred yards off was a wolf, whose lair had been 

 invaded by the penetrating rain. The ejected tenant 

 made the neighbourhood echo with his discordant 

 howlings. When day dawned he still remained at 

 his post. Nothing would have induced me to harm 

 him. I suppose I was actuated by the fellow-feeling 

 that both were houseless. 



Although the trumpet did not sound ' to horse ' 

 at an early hour, I was soon on foot, leading along 

 my disreputable-looking ' Rosinante/ About noon 

 the country commenced to improve, the hills be- 

 coming less rugged and the valleys showing some 

 symptoms of vegetation, while here and there, even 

 in exposed situations, a dwarf fir-tree could be 

 discerned. Snow still was to be found, but only in 

 patches, its position generally denoting a ravine. 

 Several buffalo, all of which were bulls, I saw in 

 various directions ; but, having enough and to spare 

 of bear-meat, I left them to die patriarchs. 



When the sun was an hour from the horizon I 



