Pagina 188 di 483

"Having thus arranged my dwelling and carpeted it with clean

straw, I retired, for I saw the figure of a man at a distance,

and I remembered too well my treatment the night before to trust

myself in his power. I had first, however, provided for my

sustenance for that day by a loaf of coarse bread, which I

purloined, and a cup with which I could drink more conveniently

than from my hand of the pure water which flowed by my retreat.

The floor was a little raised, so that it was kept perfectly dry,

and by its vicinity to the chimney of the cottage it was

tolerably warm.