366 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



there should be any angels, whether my predicament doea 

 not remind them something of the young Hebrew they saw 

 in the lion's den, three thousand cycles ago — except that I 

 am a trifle higher up than he was. But lions didn't climb 

 then. I believe they haven't learned yet so well as panthers 

 — cases mightily alike, anyhow ! The angels pitied him, for 

 they are said to be very compassionate ; and maybe they'd 

 pity me, too, if I were not such an unmitigated sinner, and 

 didn't feel ashamed to ask their pity. I have no hope in 

 that direction, for I never believed in them ; though it would 

 be a comfort now. I have sneered like a devil about their 

 " harping on their harps," when they had never done me any 

 harm — and I didn't want their help — even if I was to be 

 overtaken with a belief in them now — I don't fancy such 

 times as this for repentance and begging — don't think they 

 would either. 



Roar away down there — -that's right ! Saturnalia of the 

 grizzly fiends ! That's the music for the brave Sceptic ! His 

 religion is to hate and to defy ! Pooh ! I'm getting a little 

 cracked, I believe, and sleepy, too. Ticklish place this, to 

 dream, unless it is of hugging ! Wonder what effect Mrs. 

 Mab's chariot wheels, driven athwart one's nose, would have 

 upon dreams up here ? Warrant her " time out of mind coach 

 makers," "joiner squirrel and old grub," are plenty enough 

 out this way. Ha ! ha ! to think of her "team of atomies" 

 galloping across the panther's snout. 



Plague this unruly member ! I can't keep it from prating 

 about God ! I'd like to know how high the Doctor roosts 

 to-night ? I'm afraid that it is in Abraham's bosom ! I 

 wonder if he has pony with him? Pity he couldn't have 

 had a bear-steak, with honey, before he went ; I think he'd 

 have gone without a murmur then. But they say that 

 milk and honey flow through the streets up there— -no 

 account of bears though. Sleep ! " balmy sleep ! tired 



