whispers, through which I found myself now and then giving
involuntary utterance to my thoughts. Cutting up a pair of
boots which I carried in my box, I wound my legs in leather
from my ankles up above my knees, carefully drawing on a
pair of thick, long stockings to hold it in place. This
precaution would give me a comfortable sense of security,
even if there were no snakes to fear. I felt sure that the
lion, if he were still living, would be kept in some place
of confinement.

It was long past bedtime, and the lights were out in every
shop and dwelling, when I started on my daring mission. The
little lamps that glared through the fog at the street
corners could scarcely be seen twenty feet away. I was so
preoccupied that I frequently lost my direction in the mud
and darkness. It seemed as if I had been traveling for
hours, when at last I felt the big wall, and saw its dim
bulk rising above me and stretching away into the night.
Cautiouly I groped along its base until my hands felt the
iron bars of the gate. Then I stood for some moments leaning
against them, quite out of breath. They were cold and wet,
and chilled me to a shiver when I touched them. I peered
toward the house but could see nothing. I listened, but
could hear nothing except the beating of my own heart and
the mournful sound of the pines whose loftier branches were
stirring in the still air. Grasping the heavy bars I tried
to climb the gate, but, as there were no projections on
which it was possible to get a foothold, I found this an
exhausting and difficult task. I climbed repeatedly several
feet above the earth, only to lose my foothold and slide