I saw no
alternative but to stay where I was for the night.
This was not very pleasant, but the adventures of the day had
put me into a stoical frame of mind, and I saw no good in
repining. I unhitched Peg, sponged her foot, and tied her to
a tree. I would have made more careful explorations to
determine just where I was, but a sharp patter of rain began
to fall. So I climbed into my Parnassus, took Bock in with
me, and lit the swinging lamp. By this time it was nearly ten
o'clock. There was nothing to do but turn in, so I took off
my boots and lay down in the bunk. Bock lay quite comfortably
on the floor of the van. I meant to read for a while, and so
did not turn out the light, but I fell asleep almost immediately.
I woke up at half-past eleven and turned out the lamp, which
had made the van very warm. I opened the little windows front
and back, and would have opened the door, but I feared Bock
might slip away. It was still raining a little. To my
annoyance I felt very wakeful. I lay for some time listening
to the patter of raindrops on the roof and skylight--a very
snug sound when one is warm and safe. Every now and then I
could hear Peg stamping in the underbrush.
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