138 NATURALISTS CABINET. 



A perilous situation. 



It may be here necessary to inform the reader, 

 that from the first moment of Archer's arrival, 

 the dog had not left him a moment, but had even 

 followed him into the chamber, where he placed 

 himself under the bed, unperceived by the land- 

 lord. The door being shut, our traveller began 

 to revolve in his mind the singular appearance of 

 his old companion, his lonely situation, and the 

 manners of the inmates of the house; the whole 

 of which tended to confirm his suspicion of being 

 in a place of danger and uncertainty. His re- 

 flections were soon interrupted by the approach 

 of the dog, who came fawning from under the 

 bed, and by several extraordinary gestures, en- 

 deavoured to direct his attention to a particular 

 corner of the room. He accordingly went thi- 

 ther, and saw a sight that called up every senti- 

 ment of horror ; the floor was stained with blood, 

 which seemed to flow out of a closet, that was 

 secured by a lock, which he in vain attempted 

 to force. No longer doubting his situation, but 

 considering himself as the next victim of the 

 wretches into whose society he had fallen, he re- 

 solved to sell his life as dearly as possible, and 

 either to perish in the attempt or effect his deli- 

 ve,rance. 



With this determination, he pulled out his pis- 

 tols, and softly opened the door, honest Brutus 

 at his heels, with his shaggy hair erect, like the 

 bristles of a boar, bent on destruction; he reached 

 the bottom of the stairs with as much caution as 



