48 THE HOESE AND HIS RIDER. 



which, as if administered to him by an angel, awakened 

 him from his swoon. 



It was the hand that, "in the beginning," when the 

 earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon 

 the face of the deep, had created that " lesser light to rule 

 the night," which, just before he fell, he had observed 

 rising from the horizon, but which now, shining above 

 his head, upon four upturned glittering horse-shoes (all he 

 could see of his mangled beast), made known to him, at a 

 glance, that what had evidently befallen him, according 

 to the illuminated clock in the heavens, must have oc- 

 curred many hours ago. 



"With cool presence of mind, Colonel Moore, after 

 making several experimental movements, ascertained that 

 he was severely cut about the body and head ; that his 

 right ankle was dislocated, and that his back was be- 

 numbed or paralysed by the concussion of his fall. As 

 soon, however, as the long wished-for sun rose, it shone 

 upon his bare, bleeding head with such excruciating force, 

 that, as a protection from its rays, he transferred his 

 cotton neckerchief to his scalp and forehead, leaving 

 sticking up above them the two ends, which, like the 

 remainder, were stained with his red blood. 



After remaining in extreme pain for several hours, to 

 his great joy he saw a boat full of sable natives rowing 

 towards the spot on which, in the head-dress just de- 



