8 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



of having to pass the night al fresco, made my frame 

 of mind anything but enviable. The mosquitoes, which 

 previously I had scarcely noticed, now put in a claim 

 for attention, for my wretched plight seemed to give 

 them confidence, and they attacked me front, rear, and 

 flanks, and in columns. It was useless to attempt 

 to drive them off; their perseverance would have 

 been most commendable, if engaged in a better 

 cause. Night was rapidly approaching, and the giant 

 shadows had become indistinct in their outline, mingling 

 together in one dark gloom. Distant rumbling of 

 thunder portended a coming storm, reminding me that 

 I had better make all snug, for a dirty night was at 

 hand. 



I soon found a prostrate monarch of the forest, 

 under whose side I expected to find comparative 

 shelter ; in a short space I had gathered sufficient 

 debris and flammable matter to make a fire, determining 

 to sacrifice one of my ducks to the implacable tor- 

 mentor, hunger. Out of the few matches I had, four 

 missed, or would not light ; but two more remained. 

 With what care and anxiety did I try the others ! 

 Alas ! the head of No. 5 flew off, and but one remained 

 to save me from Erebus, and the incursions of some 

 erratic midnight prowler. With the utmost care I 

 undertook the trying ordeal of squeezing myself into 



