Upsidonia

xt to nothing. I had got into a wild hilly country, where habitation was very sparse, and

al, and set out again almost immediately, meaning to find some place where I could e

somewhat unkempt appearance, who invited me to turn aside and visit the old jet

nows their ending. They are full of romance, and call up all sorts of delightful visions. From Eastern tales of magic and treasure to brisk tales of smugglers, the entrance to a cave has always

big enough to creep through. Still, they were undoubtedly caves, and not mere holes in the hillside. The largest one was full of water, and little ferns grew luxuriantly on the sides and roof, which dripped continuously. One of the others was choked by a fa

that if the other cave had fallen in, after so many years, this one was not unlikely to fall in now at any time, and we should find ourselves in an awkward fix if it should fall in while we were exploring, and cut off our retreat

The roof was high enough to enable us to walk upright, an

rch, when a stone or something fell in front of us with a noisy plump. My comp

something fell, that made still more no

of sunlight, and then there was a load roar in my

gain he had disappeared, and the patch of sunlight also. So I continued on my way, and seemed to be alw

aw a point of light in front of me, which increased as I ap

of a wood. It seemed to me that I had come quite straight along the underground passage, so that I must be on the way in which I intended to go.

own in, and as I did so saw a very

haken off one uninvited companion, I d

unkempt hair and beard-a look of self-possession, even of pride, a

if I gave him some money he would probably want to go away at once a

s arrogance. He drew himself u

and he looked round as if to summon so

"if you are as proud as all that--! But I mea

perhaps, in one who was richer. I will not take your money; and if you use your su

. I took the sixpence out of my po

urself a good meal, or a drink if you like.

ried. "I'll have you arrested for this." And he stalked o

was sorry for him; but I reflected before I had chosen my mossy resting-place under a spreading oak, that with so great a contempt for money and what money represented

y have been a second or two before the actuality disengaged itself from the stuff of my dreams, and I suddenly awoke, and sprang up int

ack in one hand and my stout walk

a tall hat. He was stout, and appeared to be grossly fed, for as I came up to him he turned and put up his hands to warn me off-my watch was in one of them; but he was so winded by h

enough to bleat out: "What are you doing? They're after

mind, when my attention was distracted by a hullabaloo from the road,

nsiderable concourse of people advancing towards me, headed by

iece of fortune than I could have hoped for. "Yes, here he is," I said. "He stole

the wood from the road, and now came straight to

ishment, he seized me by the collar, and said: "Now you co

y. I was young and str

sked angrily. "Here's the

he shoulders. "I wash my hands of it," he

m. But the policeman was on me again, and with him several other

here's the thief! Why don't yo

rected the others with an air of authority. This was the more remarkable, because the greater part of them were not like the ordin

I said. "I'm on a walking-tour, and I dare say

d, where a smart Victoria was standing, at a poi

rce money on this gentleman; and I warn you that anyt

in which case I should presently awake; or I was in the hands of a set of

while I was being led off in ignominious captivity. He was actually now stepping i

rs. "But, at any rate, take that man too. I tell you that he sto

mongst the well-dressed ones said to the other: "Old Perry is really rather

ou get him taken

at me coldly a

erous criminal. Will you let the constable drive

up a sanctimonious face, and replied: "I am in my proper plac

e of the poor-looking men said to my ragged one: "

a foot's pace, the other carriages turning back to accom

come through the cave. Before that, as I have said, there had been few signs of human habitation; but

d cottages; and the road, which had been of the roughest, was

t could think of no considerable town within a radius of fifty miles of where I had spent the night; and I knew I could not have w

saved you if I could. I think you must now be convinced of that. It may be that in the exercise of my charity I have overstepped the mark, and have done wrong. It now only remains for you

urance that I should see that he got the punishment he deserved. He he