172 THE HISTORY OF

themselves abound in precipices, It happened that one of the
officers whom Jack was attending upon a shooting party, took
aim at some great bird, and brought it down; but as it fell into
a deep valley over some rocks which it was impossible to
descend, they despaired of gaining their prey. Jack imme-
diately, with officious haste, set off and ran down the more level
side of the hill, thinking to make a circuit, and reach the valley
into which the bird had fallen, He set off, therefore, but as he
was totally ignorant of the country, he in a short time buried
himself so deep in the wood, which grew continually thicker,
that he knew not which way to proceed. He then thought it
most prudent to return ; but this he-found as difficult to effect
as the other. He therefore wandered about the woods with
inconceivable difficulty all day, but could never find his com-
pany, nor even reach the shore, or obtain a prospect of the sea.
‘At length night approached, and Jack, who conceived it impos-
sible to do that in the dark which he had not been able to
effect in the light, lay down under a rock, and composed himself
to rest as well as he was able. The next day he arose with
the light, and once more attempted to regain the shore ; but
unfortunately he had totally lost all idea of the direction he
ought to pursue, and saw nothing around him but the dismal
prospect of woods, hills, and precipices, without a guide or path.
Jack now began to be very hungry ; but as he had a fowling-
piece with him, and powder and shot, he soon procured himself
a dinner; and kindling a fire with some dry leaves and sticks,
he roasted his game upon the embers, and dined as comfortably
as he could be expected to do in so forlorn asituation. Finding
himself refreshed, he pursued his journey, but with as little
‘success as ever. On the third day he indeed came in sight of
the sea, but found that he was quite on a different side of the
island from that where he had left the ship, and that neither