I could hardly hold my head up, I was so ill, and I
lay in a corner of the chaise in a sort of dream, kept from sleeping
from intense pain in the forehead and temples. It was about nine o'clock
at night, when we were in a dreadful jolting road, the shocks proceeding
from which gave me agonizing pain, that the chaise was stopped by two
men, who dragged me out on the grass. One stood over me, while the other
rifled the chaise. The post-boy, who appeared a party to the
transaction, remained quietly on his horse, and as soon as they had
taken my effects, turned round and drove off. They then rifled my
person, taking away everything that I had, leaving me nothing but my
trousers and shirt. After a short consultation, they ordered me to walk
on in the direction in which we had been proceeding in the chaise, and
to hasten as fast as I could, or they would blow my brains out. I
complied with their request, thinking myself fortunate to have escaped
so well. I knew that I was still thirty miles at least from the
vicarage; but ill as I was, I hoped to be able to reach it on foot. I
walked during the remainder of the night, but I got on but slowly. I
reeled from one side of the road to the other, and occasionally sat down
to rest. Morning dawned, and I perceived habitations not far from me. I
staggered on in my course.
The fever now raged in me, my head was splitting with agony, and I
tottered to a bank near a small neat cottage, on the side of the road. I
have a faint recollection of some one coming to me and taking my hand,
but nothing further; and it was not till many months afterwards, that I
became acquainted with the circumstances which I now relate.
Pages:
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674