96 SPORTING AND 



pursue before the night fell, when no work 

 could be done. I sprang to my feet at 

 once, and, on examination, I found the 

 wood- work was much more dilapidated than 

 I at first had supposed ; it was almost rot- 

 ten, and a vigorous push would send out 

 the whole wall this I must be careful 

 not to do, or I should alarm the neigh- 

 bourhood or village, which I concluded 

 must surround the place of my confine- 

 ment. I then selected one place that ap- 

 peared more rotten than the rest, and 

 found that a gentle continuous push would 

 soon leave me free. This important point 

 settled, I returned to my mat and reflected 

 upon what direction I should pursue when 

 I regained my liberty. We had deviated 

 the previous day so much from our course, 

 and had so frequently retraced our steps, 

 that I had no idea in what direction my 



