There was nothing to guide me except the stars, no sign of any habitation, nor cultivated field; not even a fence.

I shivered in the night air, and went stumbling forward over the rough ground, until I came upon a road running north and south.

I had no desire to proceed in either of these directions, but the walking was so much better that I turned to the left, hoping to find a trend eastward, as I knew the river swerved in that direction.

My reward was the discovery of a crossroad, a mere wagon track, into which I gladly turned, and plodded along steadily.

The stiff exercise, combined with the heat of my body--for I was walking now as rapidly as the darkness would permit--dried my clothes, yet with every step onward, I became more apprehensive of danger.