MADEIRA. 



15 



to be invoking the " angels and ministers of 

 grace/' whilst I explained to him, in the few 

 unearthly sounds which I could utter in his 

 language, from whence I came, and what was 

 my mission. He appeared satisfied, and took 

 his leave, but not without the precaution of 

 placing his dog on guard, to watch my future 

 movements. The suspicions of the dog were 

 not so soon allayed as those of his master. He 

 took his position near me, and, as I imagined 

 at first, intended by an occasional growl only 

 to give me notice that the sentry was on the 

 alert. I soon found, however, that the poor 

 animal was suffering the same sort of torture 

 as that from which I had escaped, though pro- 

 bably from a minuter race of insects, which 

 had gathered upon him from the floor. Against 

 their incessant assaults, he made a vigorous 

 and unremitting defence, by an interminable 



