He began to think himself some hero of romance, mounted upon a winged steed, inspired with reason, directed by some humane enchanter, who pitied virtue in distress.

All circumstances considered, it is no wonder that the commotion in the mind of our adventurer produced some such delirium.

All night he continued the chase; the voice, which was repeated at intervals, still retreating before him, till the morning began to appear in the east, when, by divers piteous groans, he was directed to the corner of a wood, where he beheld his miserable squire stretched upon the grass, and Gilbert feeding by him altogether unconcerned, the helmet and the lance suspended at the saddle-bow, and the portmanteau safely fixed upon the crupper.
The knight, riding up to Crabshaw, with equal surprise and concern, asked what had brought him there?
and Timothy, after some pause, during which he surveyed his master with a rueful aspect, answered, "The devil."-- "One would imagine, indeed, you had some such conveyance," said Sir Launcelot.
"I have followed your cries since last evening, I know not how nor whither, and never could come up with you till this moment.

But, say, what damage have you sustained, that you lie in that wretched posture, and groan so dismally ?" "I can't guess," replied the squire, "if it bean't that mai hoole carcase is drilled into oilet hools, and my flesh pinched into a jelly."-- "How! wherefore!" cried the knight; "who were the miscreants that treated you in such a barbarous manner?
Do you know the ruffians ?"--"I know nothing at all," answered the peevish squire, "but that I was tormented by vive houndred and vifty thousand legions of devils, and there's an end oon't."-- "Well, you must have a little patience, Crabshaw--there's a salve for every sore."-- "Yaw mought as well tell ma, for every zow there's a zirreverence."-- "For a man in your condition, methinks you talk very much at your ease--try if you can get up and mount Gilbert, that you may be conveyed to some place where you can have proper assistance .-- So--well done--cheerly!" Timothy actually made an effort to rise, but fell down again, and uttered a dismal yell.

Then his master exhorted him to take advantage of a park wall, by which he lay, and raise himself gradually upon it.