136 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



An unfortunate situation. 



him leave the house; and, notwithstanding every 

 research, his master was never able TO discover 

 his abode. 



About four years after this elopement, the gra- 

 zier had been driving a herd of cattle to a neigh- 

 bouring fair, where lie disposed of them, re- 

 ceived his money, and set out on his return home. 

 Having proceeded about ten miles on his jour- 

 ney, he was overtaken by a tempest of wind and 

 rain, that raged with such violence, as to cause 

 him to look for a place of shelter; but not being 

 able to perceive any house at hand, he struck 

 out of the main road/ and ran towards a wood 

 that appeared at some distance, where he escaped 

 the storm by crouching under the trees ; but by 

 this means, he insensibly departed from the pro- 

 per way he had to go, until he had actually lost 

 himself, and knew not where he was. He tra- 

 velled, however, according to the best of his 

 judgment, though not without fear of being at- 

 tacked by some robbers, whose depredations had 

 recently been the terror of the neighbouring 

 country. A smoke that came from some bushes, 

 convinced him that he was near a house, to which 

 he thought it prudent to go, in order that he 

 might learn where he was, and procure refresh- 

 ment: accordingly he crossed a path, and came 

 to the door, knocked and demanded admission ; 

 the landlord, a surly looking fellow, gave him an 

 invitation to enter and be seated, in a room that 

 wore but an indifferent aspect. Our traveller 



