228 II ix tory of Methodism 



shoulder, perceived the increasing speed of his perse- 

 cutor. The Bishop traveled still faster, but all to no 

 purpose; his tormentor was close upon his track; there 

 seemed to be no way of escape; he must be made pris- 

 oner, for the enemy was upon him, and about to open 

 his battery and shoot his questions at him, which he 

 feared more than some men do arrows and bullets. 

 Just as he thought he must surrender, when there ap- 

 peared to be no hope and no alternative^ an unf enced 

 thicket came in view. Hope sprung up in the Bish- 

 op's bosom, and he darted into the thicket with the 

 swiftness of a hunted hare, and was soon where his 

 pursuer could not find him. While the Bishop was 

 rejoicing that he had thus fortunately made his escape 

 and found a refuge, the farmer paused, looked cheap, 

 and, muttering his disappointment in monosyllables, 

 passed slowly up the hill. The Bishop positively re- 

 fused to leave his asylum, till he could be assured 

 that his disappointed pursuer was fairly out of sight. 

 When he was satisfied of this, he consented to leave 

 the thicket, to which he was so deeply indebted for his 

 protection. ' Did I not tell you,' said the Bishop, ' he 

 was preparing to catechise me? ' The Bishop added: 

 ' It is very annoying to me, as I cannot answer their 

 principal questions, which generally are these: First, 

 Where do you live when you are at home? Now, the 

 truth is, I cannot answer this question, for I have no 

 home. The second question is, How old are you, if 

 I may be so bold? This question I cannot answer, as 

 the family records were destroyed at the commence- 

 ment of the Revolutionary War. Therefore, as I can- 

 not answer their principal questions, neither can I 

 others, and I do not wish to be perplexed by a con- 

 stant catechetical course; and I will run at any time, 



