52 THE OUT-STATION; OR, 



fluence that is said to possess such magic effect on 

 the overwrought feelings of the softer sex, on far more 

 trivial occasions, would indeed have been a luxury ; 

 but I did not do so at least, if I remember rightly 

 I did something much more irreligious, or if I did not, 

 Echo did it for me, and another more distant Echo, 

 like a kind-hearted, sympathising fellow, immediately 

 manifested that he entirely coincided with my senti- 

 ments, and the mode of expressing them. 



But there is no peace for the wicked! I had 

 scarcely discovered the loss of the elk than I had a 

 very strong perception of the loss of myself; not having 

 the remotest idea of the way I had ascended, nor of 

 north, south, east, or west ; in short, about as small 

 a notion at that particular moment of the cardinal 

 points as I had of the cardinal virtues. 



Always accommodating myself to existing circum- 

 stances, I at once commenced feeling for the softest 

 rock on which I might pass the night, when the 

 recollection of what a "feather-bed in such a predica- 

 ment the elk's carcase would have formed, made my 

 loss doubly mortifying ; in the next place, philosophi- 

 cally lighting a cigar, the clouds of discontent began 

 gradually to disperse (much against my own inclina- 

 tion, however), until getting as fleecy as the fumes 

 that befriended them, they took advantage of an 

 unguarded moment to amalgamate, and to vanish 

 (like all ghosts do), in a wreath of blue smoke. 



Finding that three hours of daylight yet remained, 



