"It was noon when I awoke; and, allured by the warmth of the
sun, which shone brightly on the white ground, I determined to
recommence my travels; and, depositing the remains of the
peasant's breakfast in a wallet I found, I proceeded across the
fields for several hours, until at sunset I arrived at a
village. How miraculous did this appear! the huts, the neater
cottages, and stately houses, engaged my admiration by turns.
The vegetables in the gardens, the milk and cheese that I saw
placed at the windows of some of the cottages, allured my
appetite. One of the best of these I entered; but I had hardly
placed my foot within the door, before the children shrieked,
and one of the women fainted. The whole village was roused; some
fled, some attacked me, until, grievously bruised by stones and
many other kinds of missile weapons, I escaped to the open
country, and fearfully took refuge in a low hovel, quite bare,
and making a wretched appearance after the palaces I had beheld
in the village. This hovel, however, joined a cottage of a neat
and pleasant appearance; but, after my late
[dearly-bought] <dearly bought>
experience, I dared not enter it. My place of refuge was
constructed of wood, but so low, that I could with difficulty
sit upright in it. No wood, however, was placed on the earth,
which formed the floor, but it was dry; and although the wind
entered it by innumerable chinks, I found it an agreeable asylum
from the snow and rain.
"Here then I retreated, and lay [down,]
<down> happy to have found a shelter, however
miserable, from the inclemency of the season, and still more
from the barbarity of man.
"As soon as morning dawned, I crept from my kennel, that I might
view the adjacent cottage, and discover if I could remain in the
habitation I had found. It was situated against the back of the
cottage, and surrounded on the sides which were exposed by a
pig-stye and a clear pool of water. One part was open, and by
that I had crept in; but now I covered every crevice by which I
might be perceived with stones and wood, yet in such a manner
that I might move them on occasion to pass out: all the light I
enjoyed came through the stye, and that was sufficient for
me.