Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/164

 lately been satiated, would speedily return, and my negligence had cut me off from the resource which had recently been furnished: I though not till now that a second meal might be indispensable.

To return upon my footsteps to the spa where the dead animal lay, was a heartless project; I might thus be placing myself at a hopeless distance from liberty; besides, my track could not be retraced. I had frequently deviated from a straight direction for the sake of avoiding impediments; all that I was sensible of was, that I was travelling up an irregular acclivity. I hoped sometime to reach the summit; but had no reason for adhering to one line of ascent in preference to another.

To remain where I was, was manifestly absurd; whether I mounted or descended, a change of place was most likely to benefit me. I resolved to vary my direction; and, instead of ascending, keep along the side of what I accounted a hill. I had gone some hundred feet, when the murmur before described once more saluted my ear.

This sound being imagined to proceed from a running stream, could not but light up joy in the heart of one nearly perishing with thirst; I proceeded with new courage. The sound approached no nearer, nor became more distinct; but as long as it died not away, I was satisfied to listen and to hope.

I was eagerly observant if any the least glimmering of light should visit this recess; at length, on the right hand, a gleam infinitely faint caught my attention. It was wavering and unequal. I directed my steps towards it. It became more vivid and permanent; it was of that kind, however, which proceeded from a fire kindled with dry sticks, and not from the sun. I now heard the crackling of flames.

This sound made me pause, or at least to proceed with circumspection. At length the scene opened, and I found myself at the entrance of a cave. I quickly reached a station whence I saw a fire burning. At first, no other object was noted; but it was easy to infer that the fire was kindled by men, and that they who kindled it could be at no great distance.