24S TRAVELS IN 
unfortunate animal, while licking his lips by 
anticipation, little knew that he was going to 
tafte it for the laft time. But be not deje6led, 
O tender reader ! My worthy Kees did not 
perilh, and my brandy was faved for the 
future. 
Having finifhed my difpatches, and inclofed 
them in their laft cover, at the moment whea 
he beheld with fatisfadion that the bottle had 
performed its round, it came into my head to 
deceive his expeftation by a trick, without any 
other motive than to furprife him, and to amufe 
myfelf. His allowance had been juft poured 
into the plate ; and, whiifl he was preparing to 
tafte it, I lighted at my candle a flip of paper, 
which I imperceptibly conveyed under his 
belly : the brandy inftantly caught fire ; Kees 
fent forth a fhrill cry, and leaped to the 
diftance of ten paces from me. I tried to 
recal him, by offering him a thoufand carefl^es; 
but, following the diftates of his own paflion 
and anger, he immediately difappeared, and 
retired to reft. Night being now pretty far 
advanced, I received the compliments and 
tlianks of my people ; and all of us flept very 
foundly. 
I muft obferve that, af:er this terrible fear 
into 
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