Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 1).djvu/185

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rages in the neighbourhood of Baden: "But what have I to fear? (exclaimed he) my life is not worth the taking; from a single man they can expect no booty, and the basest of cowards only would attack a defenceless being that cannot injure them."

Fortified by these considerations, he proceeded through the wood, in which there was no path-way, and in many places so difficult to pervade, that he more than once repented of his attempt, which he was fearful would at last prove fruitless; persevering, however, with infinite difficulty, he walked on. The trees were very lofty, and it appeared as if he descended gradually all the way. For three hours he kept on, till quite exhausted, he was obliged to rest himself at the foot of a tree, and eat a small cake the shepherdess had given him. "I have no doubt (thought he) but that I must be near the convent, as it certainly lies in this direction, though most probably there may be a less troublesome road to it. They informed me at the cottage it was about seven miles