_Harry._--Instead of that, the light, which had before been moving along
at a slow and easy pace, now began to dance as it were before me, ten
times faster than before, so that instead of overtaking it, I found
myself farther and farther behind. Still, however, I ran on, till I
unwarily sunk up to the middle in a large bog, out of which I at last
scrambled with a very great difficulty. Surprised at this, and not
conceiving that any human being could pass over such a bog as this, I
determined to pursue it no longer. But now I was wet and weary; the
clouds had indeed rolled away, and the moon and stars began to shine. I
looked around me, and could discern nothing but a wide, barren country,
without so much as a tree to shelter me, or any animal in sight. I
listened, in hopes of hearing a sheepbell, or the barking of a dog; but
nothing met my ear, except the shrill whistling of the wind, which blew
so cold that it chilled me to the very heart. In this situation I
stopped a while to consider what I should do; and raising my eyes by
accident to the sky, the first object I beheld was that very
constellation of Charles' Wain, and above it I discerned the Pole-star,
glimmering, as it were, from the very top of heaven. Instantly a thought
came into my mind; I considered, that when I had been walking along the
road which led towards my uncle's house I had often observed the
Pole-star full before me; therefore it occurred to me, that if I turned
my back exactly upon it, and went straight forward in a contrary
direction, it must lead me towards my father's house. As soon as I had
formed this resolution, I began to execute it. I was persuaded I should
now escape, and therefore, forgetting my fatigue, I ran along as briskly
as if I had but then set out. Nor was I disappointed; for though I could
see no tracks, yet, taking the greatest care always to go on in that
direction, the moon afforded me light enough to avoid the pits and bogs
which are found in various parts of that wild moor; and when I had
travelled, as I imagined, about three miles, I heard the barking of a
dog, which gave me double vigour; and going a little farther, I came to
some enclosures at the skirts of the common, which I knew, so that I
then with ease found my way home, after having almost despaired of doing
it.
_Tommy._--Indeed, then, the knowledge of the Pole-star was of very great
use to you. I am determined I will make myself acquainted with all the
stars in the heavens. But did you ever find out what that light was,
which danced before you in so extraordinary a manner?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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