Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 161: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

144 REYNOLDS’ WORKS > shako. This he did, all the while beseeching and imploring in the most piteous terms that I would spare his life. [I taunted him with his villainy toward me, telling him that I would not degrade myself by wreaking my vengeance on so miserable a wretch. Having assumed his hat and coat, — the latter a frock buttoning up to the neck and fitting me perfectly, — I told him he might inform the postilion that -the remaining horse wouid be found some short distance farther along the road, and leaping upon its back, I made the animal gallop away at the utmost speed of which it was capable. Having proceeded thus for about three miles, I came in sight of a little hamlet, and, dismounting, tied the horse to a tree. I then continued my way on foot, and on reaching the hamlet, obtained refreshment. The cottagers at whose dwelling I stopped were naturally surprised to behold a female in male attire, but as I gave them a piece of silver as a remuneration for the sorry fare which was served up to me, they asked no questions. I did not tarry many minutes in that hamlet, but pursuing my way on foot, speedily entered upon the vast amphitheatrical chain of the Pyrenees. | ‘The ascent of the Pyrenees from the Spanish side is steep, difficult, and dangerous. Sometimes, when having mounted a terrace or ledge of rock, perhaps a mile in length, the traveller finds his way suddenly barred by the towering wall of a still higher eminence, up which he may perhaps climb if he be of desperate boldness and of experience in the mode of sealing these rocky ramparts, but I dared not make such attempts. I therefore frequently had to turn back and take another course, sometimes, when advancing too quickly, nearly falling over the edge of a gulf on which I suddenly stopped short, at other times terrified by~a rush amongst the stunted trees or brushwood, with the idea that it was.a wolf preparing to spring at me. Nevertheless, I pressed onward with a courage and an ardour that sur- prised myself, and with an exhilaration of spirits that was sustained by the excitement of my travel. ‘“ During all that day, I did not succeed in advancing more than eight miles into the heart of the Pyrenees, in conse- quence of the many times I had to turn and retrace my steps, and of the circuitous paths that I had to pursue. As evening drew near, I felt excessively weary, and was Gomicbooks.¢co m