STENEZ. 243 



of the cold, for a frost had set in, we floundered 

 on in the dark, in no good humour, our horses 

 as jaded as ourselves. At length, when, supposing 

 that we must have lost our way, we had 

 halted to discuss the propriety of bivouacking 

 in the best way we could where we were, the 

 barking of a dog assured us of the neighbour- 

 hood of houses; and soon after lights appeared, 

 borne by Pagniotti and a Turk, in whose cottage 

 he had put up. We had passed the greater part 

 of Stenez, as yet almost uninhabited, in the 

 dark. Our host was one of the first residents 

 who had arrived from winter-quarters: he gave 

 us a warm and hospitable reception, and a good 

 fire and good supper soon banished our discom- 

 fort. 



