Into the deeper blackness of the interior I dared not venture; on the border I paused to ask myself what I did there alone in the night-time.

Sitting down, I covered my face with my hands as if to hide it more effectually than it could be hidden by night and the forest shadows.

What horrible thing, what calamity that frightened my soul to think of, had fallen on me?
The revulsion of feeling, the unspeakable horror, the remorse, was more than I could bear.

I started up with a cry of anguish, and would have slain myself to escape at that moment; but Nature is not always and utterly cruel, and on this occasion she came to my aid.

Consciousness forsook me, and I lived not again until the light of early morning was in the east; then found myself lying on the wet herbage--wet with rain that had lately fallen.