Chap. XXI. SEEK SHELTER IN A HUT. 



417 



to a dead stand, and confessed he did not know 

 where he was ; nor was this to be wondered at in 

 the thick mist and darkness which surrounded us. 

 What to do next was now a most serious and 

 anxious question, and one most difficult to answer. 

 Our guide recommended us to remain where we 

 were, and suggested that the thick mist might 

 possibly clear away and enable him to make out 

 some familiar landmark. We were far above the 

 level of any of the villages which are scattered 

 over these hills, and had no hope of obtaining 

 shelter unless we could stumble upon one of those 

 temporary summer huts erected by the farmers, 

 who cultivate Indian corn on the higher lands. 

 Drenched to the skin, and cold, we now endea- 

 voured to obtain shelter from the wind and rain 

 on the lee side of a large projecting granite rock, 

 and remained in this comfortless position for more 

 than an hour. 



As the mist chanced to lift a little, our guide, 

 who was anxiously looking out, fancied he dis- 

 cerned a light at no great distance. This soon 

 became more clearly visible, and we gladly moved 

 on towards it. It turned out to be shining from a 

 miserable hut, such as I have already noticed, and 

 was occupied temporarily by an old woman and a 

 boy, for the purpose of getting in their crop of 

 Indian corn. But " any port in a storm ;" and I 

 looked on this miserable hovel with more thank- 

 fulness than I had done on many a snug and com- 

 fortable inn at home. 



