CHAPTER III.
"Man doth usurp all space, Stares thee, in rock, bush, river, in the face.
Never thine eyes behold a tree; 'Tis no sea thou seest in the sea, 'Tis but a disguised humanity.
To avoid thy fellow, vain thy plan; All that interests a man, is man." HENRY SUTTON.
The trees, which were far apart where I entered, giving free passage to the level rays of the sun, closed rapidly as I advanced, so that ere long their crowded stems barred the sunlight out, forming as it were a thick grating between me and the East.

I seemed to be advancing towards a second midnight.

In the midst of the intervening twilight, however, before I entered what appeared to be the darkest portion of the forest, I saw a country maiden coming towards me from its very depths.

She did not seem to observe me, for she was apparently intent upon a bunch of wild flowers which she carried in her hand.

I could hardly see her face; for, though she came direct towards me, she never looked up.