CHAP. XI. | Slides Down the Rocks. 209 
dropped it as far as the string would allow, and then, let- 
ting go, I heard the gun clash to the bottom. I next took 
the two napkins which had bound the gun to my back, and 
wound them round my head, in order to save it as much as 
possible from the edges of the rocks. I then stretched my- 
self upon the rocky slope, with my feet downward, and was 
ready for the descent, when, repenting, I would again have 
drawn myself up. But the scanty herbage which I held by 
gave way, and I was hurled down, whether I would or no, 
and with such violence that, on landing among the rocks, I 
became quite unconscious. 
“On recovering, I found myself lying at the foot of the 
cliff, sick and very sore. I found that I had bled profuse- 
ly from the nose and one of my ears. My first impulse, on 
recovering, was to move my limbs to ascertain if any of 
them were broken, when, to my inexpressible joy and thank- 
fulness, I found them whole, though somewhat benumbed. 
Becoming thirsty, and observing a pool of water at a short 
distance, I attempted to rise, but my spine pained me so 
much that I was obliged to lie down again without being 
able to reach the desired spot. The thirst increasing, I 
dragged myself to the water, I thrust my mouth into it, 
and had partaken of a draught before I discovered that, in- 
stead of fresh, I had swallowed salt, water! 
“Tf I was ill before, I was worse now. Having sickened 
and vomited again, I revived a little; and after I had washed 
the blood from my face and head, I was enabled to sit up 
with my back against a rock. While thus seated, I ob- 
served all the articles which had been dropped, except my 
cap, which, however, I afterward found. After sitting for 
about half an hour, I made another attempt to rise, and 
succeeded, though I reeled about like a drunken fellow, 
and could scarcely stand steady without the’aid of my gun, 
which I found was not so much bruised as I had expected. 
Having again assumed my coat and other appendages, I 
then endeavored to load my gun, with the view of procur- 
ta 
