A NIGHT IN A CART SHED 
41 
fatigued and could scarcely proceed on my journey. 
No matter—it would not do, and on I trudged. . . , 
At length I thought I was going in a wrong 
direction, judging by the position of the moon, which 
sent a few dim rays through a cloudy atmosphere. 
I was on a wrong road, but at length I came to 
some houses and was put right. Soon after I came 
to an inn, but here the beds were all occupied, and 
they were unwilling to let me sleep in an outhouse, 
and would not be at the trouble of preparing some 
supper for me. However I got directions in abund¬ 
ance. ... At a cross-road I went to a farm-house 
to enquire. The door was shut. I found myself in 
the farmyard, and spying a cart shed went into it, 
and mounted a cart, where I lay down. I had not 
been very long there when I found a loft near me 
and got upon it. Here I found a bundle of 
wattlings, another of rushes, and a bit of mat I had 
carried along with me from the cart. So I put off 
my knapsack and laid the bag under my head on the 
wattles and rushes; I spread the ragged mat over 
my legs, and slept, but not soundly. About mid¬ 
night my feet felt very cold. I put off my shoes 
and wrapped my feet in the mat. Wet shoes are 
good conductors and bad retainers of caloric. The 
mat answered better, for one foot soon got warmish, 
and that was enough for a strong chap like me. So 
I fell asleep, and when I awakened to-day the 
people were up and feeding their horses and 
poultry. I descended from my celestial mansion to 
wade again among the mire. 1 felt very weak, but 
did not experience the sensation of hunger. My 
hat was so crumpled that I could not get it put 
right, and my clothes were, and are still covered 
with dirt of various kinds. When I had proceeded 
about 2 miles I found an inn and entered it. 
There I breakfasted upon tea, bread, butter and 
eggs. But a dispute arose between the good man 
