BIOGRAPHY. 7 



bolt into a very extensive labyrinth of yew and holly 

 trees close at hand. It was the chosen place for animated 

 nature. Birds, in particular, used to frec[uent the spacious 

 enclosure, both to obtain food and enjoy security. Many 

 a time have I hunted the foumart and the squirrel. I 

 once took a cut through it to a neighbouring wood, 

 where I knew of a carrion-crow's nest. The prefect missed 

 me ; and judging that I had gone into the labyrinth, he 

 gave chase without loss of time. After eluding him in 

 cover for nearly half an hour, being hard pressed, I took 

 away down a hedgerow. 



" Here (as I learned afterwards) he got a distant sight 

 of me ; but it was not sufficiently distinct for him to know 

 to a certainty that I was the fugitive. I luckily succeeded 

 in reaching the outbuildings which abutted on the college, 

 and lay at a considerable distance from the place where 

 I had first started. I had just time to enter the postern 

 gate of a pigsty, when, most opportunely, I found old Joe 

 Bowren, the brewer, bringing straw into the sty. He was 

 more attached to me than to any other boy, for I had 

 known him when I was at school in the North, and had 

 made him a present of a very fine terrier. 



" ' I've just saved myself, Joe,' said I ; ' cover me up 

 with litter.' 



"He had hardly comphed with my request, when in 

 bounced the prefect by the same gate through which I had 

 entered. 



" ' Have you seen Charles Waterton ? ' said he, quite out 

 of breath. 



" My trusty guardian answered, in a tone of voice 

 which would have deceived anybody, ' Sir, I have not 

 spoken a word to Charles Waterton these three days, to 

 the best of my knowledge.' 



" Upon this, the prefect, having lost all scent of me. 



