MILITARY AD VENTURES. 155 



and I did not care to encumber myself 

 with purchases which would be useless. 

 It was now beginning to get dark, and, as 

 I was still suffering from weakness for I 

 had been slow in picking up strength after 

 my late privations I knew that the night 

 air was dangerous for me, and lost not any 

 time in making for home ; it was well that 

 I did so, for, darkness coming on quickly, 

 and I, not being familiar with the various 

 turnings in the streets, managed to take 

 a wrong one. After wandering about 

 some time, I fortunately came upon my 

 Bengalee, who, finding I was late in return- 

 ing, had come out to look for me, and I 

 was highly pleased to see him just as I 

 needed his aid. We now proceeded home 

 as quickly as we could, and I was astonished 

 at my extreme stupidity when I discovered 

 that I must have passed frequently within 



