sleep. In the morning, thou wilt be better qualified to ascertain the
fate of thy friend, and afford him the relief which he shall want."

I could not but admit the reasonableness of these remonstrances; but
where should a chamber and bed be sought? It was not likely that a new
attempt to procure accommodation at the inns would succeed better than
the former.

"Thy state," replied he, "is sorrowful. I have no house to which I can
lead thee. I divide my chamber, and even my bed, with another, and my
landlady could not be prevailed upon to admit a stranger. What thou wilt
do, I know not. This house has no one to defend it. It was purchased and
furnished by the last possessor; but the whole family, including
mistress, children, and servants, were cut off in a single week.
Perhaps no one in America can claim the property. Meanwhile, plunderers
are numerous and active. A house thus totally deserted, and replenished
with valuable furniture, will, I fear, become their prey. To-night
nothing can be done towards rendering it secure, but staying in it. Art
thou willing to remain here till the morrow?

"Every bed in the house has probably sustained a dead person. It would
not be proper, therefore, to lie in any one of them. Perhaps thou mayest
find some repose upon this carpet. It is, at least, better than the
harder pavement and the open air."

This proposal, after some hesitation, I embraced. He was preparing to
leave me, promising, if life were spared to him, to return early in the
morning. My curiosity respecting the person whose dying agonies I had
witnessed prompted me to detain him a few minutes.