KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



359 



At last, a move was resolved upon, and my 

 worthy host accompanied Bombyx and myself to 

 our dormitory. The two eldest boys ensconced 

 themselves in a large bed, in one corner of this 

 goodly chamber. As for myself, whenever my 

 master is travelling, I always sleep at the foot of 

 his bed ! thinking it wise so to do, for in case of 

 accidents two heads are better than one. Entre 

 nous, I make a point of sleeping with one eye 

 fixed on my old master and the other on the door, 

 so that if any intruder should appear I know how 

 to deal with him. I see instantly, by the cut of 

 his face, whether he is welcome or not. If not, I 

 just open my jaw, and warn him he had better 

 make a bolt of it. Well, my worthy host at last 

 said, " good night ;" after warning us not to ap- 

 proach too near the " fourneau," as it was red-hot 

 and would keep so till morning. "Enfin, bon 

 soir, my good fellows ; gardez vous du Fourneau." 



Bombyx was soon in bed, and I had as quickly 

 rolled myself up in the carpet by his bedside ; for 

 I confess I found the room uncommonly cold — 

 notwithstanding the red-hot " fourneau." 



Presently the little night-lamp (which was 

 placed upon the " fourneau ") went out ; and as 

 Bombyx was not asleep, he struck a light to see 

 what was the matter, and intended to light it 

 again, not being much inclined to slumber. The 

 cold and the exciting fare of our trip, I must tell 

 you, had produced anything but a sleepy mood. 



Well, only fancy ; upon only reaching the red- 

 hot " fourneau," he found the oil in the glass in 

 which the " lumignon " was placed, quite frozen ; 

 so intense was the cold ! There being, therefore, 

 no means of using the " lumignon," he arranged 

 something else ; and seeing his two boys were 

 snoring, he after a while did the same thing. I 

 quickly followed their example. The next morn- 

 ing he had a famous laugh with his relative about 

 the red-hot "fourneau." After breakfast we 

 walked to " Genthod," and from thence we went 

 per omnibus to Geneva — returning to " Versoix " 

 lor dinner. In my country, we generally dine at 

 one or two o'clock, a plan which my old master 

 adopts at the present time ; and I must say I 

 think he is right. 



Suddenly, after dinner, there arose a strong 

 southerly wind, accompanied by a very warm 

 rain ; so warm indeed, that it was quite unplea- 

 sant. " What a singular change !" said Bombyx ; 

 "what can this mean? I must be home to- 

 morrow, as I expect some friends from Vevay on 

 the following day. How are we to go ? The 

 drops of rain are just like hot water, and will soon 

 melt the surface of the snow, and make most 

 miserable roads." 



Just then, looking out of window, we saw the 

 Geneva diligence pass by, on wlieels ; and shortly 

 after, Bebi made his appearance, and said there 

 was no possibility of returning by sledges, as the 

 warm rain had been so extraordinary that the 

 snow had melted, and the roads were in a thorough 

 squash, nearly as far as Morges ; but he thought 

 his master had a large roomy return-carriage at 

 Geneva, — and it would be better for him to go and 

 secure that before any one else got it, and while 

 he was away, Louis would fix the sledges to the 

 fly-wagon ; and thus we should get home all right 

 by to-morrow, as we intended. 



After a little talking, this plan was agreed upon ; 

 and Bebi went to Geneva to secure our conveyance, 

 whilst Louis attached the sledges to the next fly- 

 wagon for Lausanne. The next morning, our four 

 horses, with their tinkling little bells, were attached 

 to our large carriage ; and we started off on our re- 

 turn. We did not, however, move at so rapid a pace 

 as when we had our sledges. Having at length 

 reached Nyon, we of course secured a supply 

 of " ecrelet," and arrived at the " Tete Noire," 

 at Morges, in time for dinner, which our Bernese 

 friend had got all ready for us — being aware of the 

 day and the hour of our probable return. He joked 

 me famously about our sledging ; but as he had 

 provided me a beautiful soup, I took it all in good 

 part. 



After nearly three hours' rest, we started again. 

 In the meanwhile, the wind had again changed to 

 a desperate cold Rise, enough to cut one in two ; 

 and when we reached Morges the snow had again 

 frozen. So slippery was it, that the poor horses 

 had some trouble to keep their ground, and it was 

 a considerable time before we reached the Pont de 

 la Maladiere. This spot is just at the foot of the 

 hill, on the Geneva road, leading up to Lausanne ; 

 and from this point the road to Lausanne is a steep 

 rise for about a quarter of an hour's walk. 



The little building which now serves as a stable 

 for the horses of Renfort, was formerly a chapel, 

 where certain religious ceremonies were observed 

 towards malefactors, who, by their crimes, had 

 forfeited their lives to the offended laws of their 

 country. Close to this very spot, too, they were 

 decapitated. This is not the only one instance of 

 a chapel being converted into a stable. Close 

 adjoining is a small public-house, where postilions, 

 carmen, &c, regale themselves whilst waiting the 

 arrival of any party to whom they are to give a 

 help up to Montbenon. Most fortunately, just as 

 we arrived there, a man signalled us, and presently 

 Bebi dismounted. His master had sent a strong 

 horse de Renfort, to help us up this rising road ; 

 and a very seasonable help it was too — for notwith- 

 standing our rest at Rolle, it had been a very 

 fatiguing day. Once, however, on Montbenon, 

 it was all even ground (that is to say, all even 

 ground for my country, not what you would 

 call so). 



We arrived much later than we expected, and 

 fortunately all safe and sound ; although we did 

 knock down an old gate-post at the entrance of 

 our home. Our carriage and horses occupied too 

 much space in this narrow lane ; and the slippery 

 state of the road, just at the turning, prevented us 

 taking a sufficient sweep. 



I was rather alarmed, but there was no great 

 harm done ; and I was not sorry to wag my tail 

 again in our own kitchen. Here a blazing fire 

 and a good hot soup awaited us. Both were un- 

 commonly welcome. Supper was soon ready for 

 Bombyx; and, of course, I poked my nose in for an 

 extra allowance. A good sleep followed ; this 

 soon made us forget all our jolting and shaking ; 

 and the next morning we were all fresh as larks. 



I only wish you had been one of us. I am sure 

 you would have enjoyed it famously. Adieu, my 

 dear friend. Au revoir. 



Fino. 



Tottenham, June 15. 



