Duringmysojourninthedingle，myfoodhadbeenofthesimplestandmostunsatisfyingdescription，bynomeanscalculatedtosupporttheexertionwhichthelabourIhadbeenengageduponrequired；ithadconsistedofcoarseoatencakesandhardcheese，andforbeverageIhadbeenindebtedtoaneighbouringpit，inwhich，intheheatoftheday，Ifrequentlysaw，notgoldenorsilverfish，butfrogsandeftesswimmingabout。Iam，however，inclinedtobelievethatMrs。Herne’scakehadquiteasmuchtodowiththematterasinsufficientnourishment。Ihadneverentirelyrecoveredfromtheeffectsofitspoison，buthadoccasionally，especiallyatnight，beenvisitedbyagrindingpaininthestomach，andmywholebodyhadbeensuffusedwithcoldsweat；andindeedthesememorialsofthedrowhaveneverentirelydisappeared-evenatthepresenttimetheydisplaythemselvesinmysystem，especiallyaftermuchfatigueofbodyandexcitementofmind。SothereIsatinthedingleuponmystone，nervelessandhopeless，bywhatevercauseorcausesthatstatehadbeenproduced-thereIsatwithmyheadleaninguponmyhand，andsoIcontinuedalong，longtime。AtlastIliftedmyheadfrommyhand，andbegantocastanxious，unquietlooksaboutthedingle-theentirehollowwasnowenvelopedindeepshade-Icastmyeyesup；therewasagoldengleamonthetopsofthetreeswhichgrewtowardstheupperpartsofthedingle；butlowerdownallwasgloomandtwilight-yet，whenIfirstsatdownonmystone，thesunwasrightabovethedingle，illuminatingallitsdepthsbytherayswhichitcastperpendicularlydown-soImusthavesatalong，longtimeuponmystone。Andnow，oncemore，Irestedmyheaduponmyhand，butalmostinstantlylifteditagaininakindoffear，andbeganlookingattheobjectsbeforeme-theforge，thetools，thebranchesofthetrees，endeavouringtofollowtheirrows，tilltheywerelostinthedarknessofthedingle；andnowIfoundmyrighthandgraspingconvulsivelythethreefore-fingersoftheleft，firstcollectively，andthensuccessively，wringingthemtillthejointscracked；thenIbecamequiet，butnotforlong。
SuddenlyIstartedup，andcouldscarcelyrepresstheshriekwhichwasrisingtomylips。Wasitpossible？Yes，alltoocertain；theevilonewasuponme；theinscrutablehorrorwhichIhadfeltinmyboyhoodhadoncemoretakenpossessionofme。Ihadthoughtthatithadforsakenme-thatitwouldnevervisitmeagain；thatIhadoutgrownit；thatImightalmostbiddefiancetoit；andIhadevenbeguntothinkofitwithouthorror，asweareinthehabitofdoingofhorrorsofwhichweconceivewerunnodanger；andlo!
whenleastthoughtof，ithadseizedmeagain。EverymomentIfeltitgatheringforce，andmakingmemorewhollyitsown。WhatshouldIdo？-resist，ofcourse；andIdidresist。Igrasped，Itore，andstrovetoflingitfromme；butofwhatavailweremyefforts？
Icouldonlyhavegotridofitbygettingridofmyself：itwasapartofmyself，orratheritwasallmyself。Irushedamongstthetrees，andstruckatthemwithmybarefists，anddashedmyheadagainstthem，butIfeltnopain。HowcouldIfeelpainwiththathorroruponme？AndthenIflungmyselfontheground，gnawedtheearth，andswallowedit；andthenIlookedround；itwasalmosttotaldarknessinthedingle，andthedarknessaddedtomyhorror。
Icouldnolongerstaythere；upIrosefromtheground，andattemptedtoescape。AtthebottomofthewindingpathwhichleduptheacclivityIfelloversomethingwhichwaslyingontheground；thesomethingmoved，andgaveakindofwhine。Itwasmylittlehorse，whichhadmadethatplaceitslair；mylittlehorse；
myonlycompanionandfriendinthatnowawfulsolitude。Ireachedthemouthofthedingle；thesunwasjustsinkinginthefarwestbehindme，thefieldswerefloodedwithhislastgleams。Howbeautifuleverythinglookedinthelastgleamsofthesun!Ifeltrelievedforamoment；Iwasnolongerinthehorriddingle。Inanotherminutethesunwasgone，andabigcloudoccupiedtheplacewherehehadbeen：inalittletimeitwasalmostasdarkasithadpreviouslybeenintheopenpartofthedingle。Myhorrorincreased；whatwasItodo？-itwasofnousefightingagainstthehorror-thatIsaw；themoreIfoughtagainstit，thestrongeritbecame。WhatshouldIdo：saymyprayers？Ah!whynot？SoI
kneltdownunderthehedge，andsaid，’OurFather’；butthatwasofnouse；andnowIcouldnolongerrepresscries-thehorrorwastoogreattobeborne。WhatshouldIdo？runtothenearesttownorvillage，andrequesttheassistanceofmyfellow-men？No!thatIwasashamedtodo；notwithstandingthehorrorwasuponme，Iwasashamedtodothat。Iknewtheywouldconsidermeamaniac，ifI
wentscreamingamongstthem；andIdidnotwishtobeconsideredamaniac。Moreover，IknewthatIwasnotamaniac，forIpossessedallmyreasoningpowers，onlythehorrorwasuponme-thescreaminghorror!Buthowwereindifferentpeopletodistinguishbetweenmadnessandthescreaminghorror？SoIthoughtandreasoned；andatlastIdeterminednottogoamongstmyfellow-men，whatevertheresultmightbe。Iwenttothemouthofthedingle，andthere，placingmyselfonmyknees，IagainsaidtheLord’sPrayer；butitwasofnouse-prayingseemedtohavenoeffectoverthehorror；theunutterablefearappearedrathertoincreasethandiminish，andIagainutteredwildcries，soloudthatIwasapprehensivetheywouldbeheardbysomechancepassengerontheneighbouringroad；Ithereforewentdeeperintothedingle。Isatdownwithmybackagainstathornbush；thethornsenteredmyflesh，andwhenIfeltthem，Ipressedharderagainstthebush；I
thoughtthepainofthefleshmightinsomedegreecounteractthementalagony；presentlyIfeltthemnolonger-thepowerofthementalhorrorwassogreatthatitwasimpossible，withthatuponme，tofeelanypainfromthethorns。Icontinuedinthisposturealongtime，undergoingwhatIcannotdescribe，andwouldnotattemptifIwereable。SeveraltimesIwasonthepointofstartingupandrushinganywhere；butIrestrainedmyself，forI
knewIcouldnotescapefrommyself，sowhyshouldInotremaininthedingle？SoIthoughtandsaidtomyself，formyreasoningpowerswerestilluninjured。Atlastitappearedtomethatthehorrorwasnotsostrong，notquitesostrong，uponme。Wasitpossiblethatitwasrelaxingitsgrasp，releasingitsprey？Ohwhatamercy!butitcouldnotbe；andyet-Ilookeduptoheaven，andclaspedmyhands，andsaid，’OurFather。’Isaidnomore-I
wastooagitated；andnowIwasalmostsurethatthehorrorhaddoneitsworst。
AfteralittletimeIarose，andstaggereddownyetfartherintothedingle。Iagainfoundmylittlehorseonthesamespotasbefore。Iputmyhandtohismouth-helickedmyhand。Iflungmyselfdownbyhim，andputmyarmsroundhisneck；thecreaturewhinnied，andappearedtosympathisewithme。Whatacomforttohaveanyone，evenadumbbrute，tosympathisewithmeatsuchamoment!Iclungtomylittlehorse，asifforsafetyandprotection。Ilaidmyheadonhisneck，andfeltalmostcalm。
Presentlythefearreturned，butnotsowildasbefore；itsubsided，cameagain，againsubsided；thendrowsinesscameoverme，andatlastIfellasleep，myheadsupportedontheneckofthelittlehorse。Iawoke；itwasdark，darknight-notastarwastobeseen-butIfeltnofear，thehorrorhadleftme。Iarosefromthesideofthelittlehorse，andwentintomytent，laydown，andagainwenttosleep。
Iawokeinthemorningweakandsore，andshudderingattheremembranceofwhatIhadgonethroughontheprecedingday；thesunwasshiningbrightly，butithadnotyetrisenhighenoughtoshowitsheadabovethetreeswhichfencedtheeasternsideofthedingle，onwhichaccountthedinglewaswetanddankfromthedewsofthenight。Ikindledmyfire，and，aftersittingbyitforsometimetowarmmyframe，ItooksomeofthecoarsefoodwhichIhavealreadymentioned；notwithstandingmylatestruggle，andthecoarsenessofthefare，Iatewithappetite。Myprovisionshadbythistimebeenverymuchdiminished，andIsawthatitwouldbespeedilynecessary，intheeventofmycontinuingtoresideinthedingle，tolayinafreshstore。Aftermymeal，Iwenttothepitandfilledacanwithwater，whichIbroughttothedingle，andthenagainsatdownonmystone。IconsideredwhatIshouldnextdo：itwasnecessarytodosomething，ormylifeinthissolitudewouldbeinsupportable。WhatshouldIdo？rouseupmyforgeandfashionahorse-shoe？ButIwantednerveandheartforsuchanemployment；moreover，Ihadnomotiveforfatiguingmyselfinthismanner；myownhorsewasshod，nootherwasathand，anditishardtoworkforthesakeofworking。WhatshouldIdo？read？Yes，butIhadnootherbookthantheBiblewhichtheWelshMethodisthadgivenme。Well，whynotreadtheBible？IwasoncefondofreadingtheBible；ay，butthosedayswerelonggoneby。However，IdidnotseewhatelseIcouldwelldoonthepresentoccasion-soI
determinedtoreadtheBible-itwasinWelsh；atanyrateitmightamuseme。SoItooktheBibleoutofthesack，inwhichitwaslyinginthecart，andbegantoreadattheplacewhereI
chancedtoopenit。IopeneditatthatpartwherethehistoryofSaulcommences。AtfirstIreadwithindifference，butaftersometimemyattentionwasriveted，andnowonder，IhadcometothevisitationsofSaul-thosedarkmomentsofhis，whenhedidandsaidsuchunaccountablethings；italmostappearedtomethatIwasreadingofmyself；I，too，hadmyvisitations，darkaseverhiswere。Oh，howIsympathisedwithSaul，thetalldarkman!Ihadreadhislifebefore，butithadmadenoimpressiononme；ithadneveroccurredtomethatIwaslikehim；butInowsympathisedwithSaul，formyowndarkhourwasbutrecentlypassed，and，perhaps，wouldsoonreturnagain；thedarkhourcamefrequentlyonSaul。
Timeworeaway；IfinishedthebookofSaul，and，closingthevolume，returnedittoitsplace。Ithenreturnedtomyseatonthestone，andthoughtofwhatIhadread，andwhatIhadlatelyundergone。AllatonceIthoughtIfeltwell-knownsensations，acrampingofthebreast，andatinglingofthesolesofthefeet；
theywerewhatIhadfeltontheprecedingday-theyweretheforerunnersofthefear。Isatmotionlessonmystone，thesensationspassedaway，andthefearcamenot。Darknesswasnowcomingagainovertheearth；thedinglewasagainindeepshade；I
rousedthefirewiththebreathofthebellows，andsatlookingatthecheerfulglow；itwascheeringandcomforting。Mylittlehorsecamenowandlaydownonthegroundbesidetheforge；Iwasnotquitedeserted。Iagainatesomeofthecoarsefood，anddrankplentifullyofthewaterwhichIhadfetchedinthemorning。I
thenputfreshfuelonthefire，andsatforalongtimelookingontheblaze；Ithenwentintomytent。
Iawoke，onmyowncalculation，aboutmidnight-itwaspitchdark，andtherewasmuchfearuponme。
CHAPTERLXXXV
Freeandindependent-Idon’tseewhy-Oats-Anoise-Unwelcomevisitors-What’sthematter？-Good-daytoye-Thetallgirl-
Dovrefeld-Blowontheface-Civilenough-What’sthis？-Vulgarwoman-Handsoff-Gaspingforbreath-LongMelford-Aprettymanoeuvre-Alongdraught-Signsofanimation-Itwon’tdo-Nomalice-Badpeople。
TwomorningsaftertheperiodtowhichIhavebroughtthereaderintheprecedingchapter，Isatbymyfireatthebottomofthedingle；Ihadjustbreakfasted，andhadfinishedthelastmorseloffoodwhichIhadbroughtwithmetothatsolitude。
’WhatshallInowdo？’saidItomyself；’shallIcontinuehere，ordecamp？-thisisasadlonelyspot-perhapsIhadbetterquitit；
butwhithershallIgo？thewideworldisbeforeme，butwhatcanI
dotherein？Ihavebeenintheworldalreadywithoutmuchsuccess。
No，Ihadbetterremainhere；theplaceislonely，itistrue，buthereIamfreeandindependent，andcandowhatIplease；butI
can’tremainherewithoutfood。Well，Iwillfindmywaytothenearesttown，layinafreshsupplyofprovision，andcomeback，turningmybackupontheworld，whichhasturneditsbackuponme。
Idon’tseewhyIshouldnotwritealittlesometimes；Ihavepensandanink-horn，andforawriting-deskIcanplacetheBibleonmyknee。Ishouldn’twonderifIcouldwriteacapitalsatireontheworldonthebackofthatBible；but，firstofall，Imustthinkofsupplyingmyselfwithfood。’
IroseupfromthestoneonwhichIwasseated，determiningtogotothenearesttown，withmylittlehorseandcart，andprocurewhatIwanted。Thenearesttown，accordingtomybestcalculation，layaboutfivemilesdistant；Ihadnodoubt，however，that，byusingordinarydiligence，Ishouldbebackbeforeevening。Inordertogolighter，Ideterminedtoleavemytentstandingasitwas，andallthethingswhichIhadpurchasedofthetinker，justastheywere。’Ineednotbeapprehensiveontheiraccount，’saidItomyself；’nobodywillcomeheretomeddlewiththem-thegreatrecommendationofthisplaceisitsperfectsolitude-IdaresaythatIcouldliveheresixmonthswithoutseeingasinglehumanvisage。Iwillnowharnessmylittlegryandbeofftothetown。’
AtawhistlewhichIgave，thelittlegry，whichwasfeedingonthebankneartheuppermostpartofthedingle，camerunningtome，forbythistimehehadbecomesoaccustomedtomethathewouldobeymycall，foralltheworldasifhehadbeenoneofthecaninespecies。’Now，’saidItohim，’wearegoingtothetowntobuybreadformyselfandoatsforyou-Iaminahurrytobeback；
thereforeIprayyoutodoyourbest，andtodrawmeandthecarttothetownwithallpossiblespeed，andtobringusback；ifyoudoyourbest，Ipromiseyouoatsonyourreturn。Youknowthemeaningofoats，Ambrol？’Ambrolwhinniedasiftoletmeknowthatheunderstoodmeperfectlywell，asindeedhewellmight，asI
hadneveroncefedhimduringthetimethathehadbeeninmypossessionwithoutsayingthewordinquestiontohim。Now，Ambrol，inthegypsytongue，signifiethapear。
SoIcaparisonedAmbrol，andthen，goingtothecart，Iremovedtwoorthreethingsfromitintothetent；Ithenlifteduptheshafts，andwasjustgoingtocalltotheponytocomeandbefastenedtothem，whenIthoughtIheardanoise。
Istoodstockstill，supportingtheshaftofthelittlecartinmyhand，andbendingtherightsideofmyfaceslightlytowardstheground，butIcouldhearnothing；thenoisewhichIthoughtIhadheardwasnotoneofthosesoundswhichIwasaccustomedtohearinthatsolitude-thenoteofabird，ortherustlingofabough；itwas-thereIhearditagain，asoundverymuchresemblingthegratingofawheelamongstgravel。Coulditproceedfromtheroad？