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discerned； going on before him at a curious fitfully bounding pace；
what he at first supposed to be a gig…umbrella that had been blown
from some conveyance； but what he presently believed to be a lean
dwarf man upon a little pony。 Having followed this object for some
distance without gaining on it； and having called to it many times
without receiving any answer； he pursued it for miles and miles；
when； at length coming up with it； he discovered it to be the last
bustard in Great Britain； degenerated into a wingless state； and
running along the ground。 Resolved to capture him or perish in the
attempt； he closed with the bustard； but the bustard； who had formed
a counter…resolution that he should do neither； threw him； stunned
him； and was last seen making off due west。 This weird main； at
that stage of metempsychosis； may have been a sleep…walker or an
enthusiast or a robber； but I awoke one night to find him in the
dark at my bedside； repeating the Athanasian Creed in a terrific
voice。 I paid my bill next day； and retired from the county with
all possible precipitation。
That was not a commonplace story which worked itself out at a little
Inn in Switzerland； while I was staying there。 It was a very homely
place； in a village of one narrow zigzag street； among mountains；
and you went in at the main door through the cow…house； and among
the mules and the dogs and the fowls； before ascending a great bare
staircase to the rooms； which were all of unpainted wood； without
plastering or papering；like rough packing…cases。 Outside there
was nothing but the straggling street； a little toy church with a
copper…coloured steeple； a pine forest； a torrent； mists； and
mountain…sides。 A young man belonging to this Inn had disappeared
eight weeks before （it was winter…time）； and was supposed to have
had some undiscovered love affair； and to have gone for a soldier。
He had got up in the night； and dropped into the village street from
the loft in which he slept with another man； and he had done it so
quietly； that his companion and fellow…labourer had heard no
movement when he was awakened in the morning； and they said； 〃Louis；
where is Henri？〃 They looked for him high and low； in vain； and
gave him up。 Now； outside this Inn； there stood； as there stood
outside every dwelling in the village； a stack of firewood； but the
stack belonging to the Inn was higher than any of the rest； because
the Inn was the richest house； and burnt the most fuel。 It began to
be noticed； while they were looking high and low； that a Bantam
cock； part of the live stock of the Inn； put himself wonderfully out
of his way to get to the top of this wood…stack； and that he would
stay there for hours and hours； crowing； until he appeared in danger
of splitting himself。 Five weeks went on；six weeks；and still
this terrible Bantam； neglecting his domestic affairs； was always on
the top of the wood…stack； crowing the very eyes out of his head。
By this time it was perceived that Louis had become inspired with a
violent animosity towards the terrible Bantam； and one morning he
was seen by a woman； who sat nursing her goitre at a little window
in a gleam of sun； to catch up a rough billet of wood； with a great
oath； hurl it at the terrible Bantam crowing on the wood…stack； and
bring him down dead。 Hereupon the woman； with a sudden light in her
mind； stole round to the back of the wood…stack； and； being a good
climber； as all those women are； climbed up； and soon was seen upon
the summit； screaming； looking down the hollow within； and crying；
〃Seize Louis； the murderer！ Ring the church bell！ Here is the
body！〃 I saw the murderer that day； and I saw him as I sat by my
fire at the Holly…Tree Inn； and I see him now； lying shackled with
cords on the stable litter； among the mild eyes and the smoking
breath of the cows； waiting to be taken away by the police； and
stared at by the fearful village。 A heavy animal；the dullest
animal in the stables；with a stupid head； and a lumpish face
devoid of any trace of insensibility； who had been； within the
knowledge of the murdered youth； an embezzler of certain small
moneys belonging to his master； and who had taken this hopeful mode
of putting a possible accuser out of his way。 All of which he
confessed next day； like a sulky wretch who couldn't be troubled any
more； now that they had got hold of him； and meant to make an end of
him。 I saw him once again； on the day of my departure from the Inn。
In that Canton the headsman still does his office with a sword； and
I came upon this murderer sitting bound； to a chair； with his eyes
bandaged； on a scaffold in a little market…place。 In that instant；
a great sword （loaded with quicksilver in the thick part of the
blade） swept round him like a gust of wind or fire； and there was no
such creature in the world。 My wonder was； not that he was so
suddenly dispatched； but that any head was left unreaped； within a
radius of fifty yards of that tremendous sickle。
That was a good Inn； too； with the kind； cheerful landlady and the
honest landlord； where I lived in the shadow of Mont Blanc； and
where one of the apartments has a zoological papering on the walls；
not so accurately joined but that the elephant occasionally rejoices
in a tiger's hind legs and tail； while the lion puts on a trunk and
tusks； and the bear； moulting as it were； appears as to portions of
himself like a leopard。 I made several American friends at that
Inn； who all called Mont Blanc Mount Blank；except one good…
humoured gentleman； of a very sociable nature； who became on such
intimate terms with it that he spoke of it familiarly as 〃Blank；〃
observing； at breakfast； 〃Blank looks pretty tall this morning；〃 or
considerably doubting in the courtyard in the evening； whether there
warn't some go…ahead naters in our country； sir； that would make out
the top of Blank in a couple of hours from first startnow！
Once I passed a fortnight at an Inn in the North of England； where I
was haunted by the ghost of a tremendous pie。 It was a Yorkshire
pie； like a fort；an abandoned fort with nothing in it； but the
waiter had a fixed idea that it was a point of ceremony at every
meal to put the pie on the table。 After some days I tried to hint；
in several delicate ways； that I considered the pie done with； as；
for example； by emptying fag…ends of glasses of wine into it；
putting cheese…plates and spoons into it； as into a basket； putting
wine…bottles into it； as into a cooler； but always in vain； the pie
being invariably cleaned out again and brought up as before。 At
last； beginning to be doubtful whether I was not the victim of a
spectral illusion； and whether my health and spirits might not sink
under the horrors of an imaginary pie； I cut a triangle out of it；
fully as large as the musical instrument of that name in a powerful
orchestra。 Human provision could not have foreseen the resultbut
the waiter mended the pie。 With some effectual species of cement；
he adroitly fitted the triangle in again； and I paid my reckoning
and fled。
The Holly…Tree was getting rather dismal。 I made an overland
expedition beyond the screen； and penetrated as far as the fourth
window。 Here I was driven back by stress of weather。 Arrived at my
winter…quarters once more； I made up the fire； and took another Inn。
It was in the remotest part of Cornwall。 A great annual Miners'
Feast was being holden at the Inn； when I and my travelling
companions presented ourselves at night among the wild crowd that
were dancing before it by torchlight。 We had had a break…down in
the dark； on a stony morass some miles away； and I had the honour of
leading one of the unharnessed post…horses。 If any lady or
gentleman； on perusal of the present lines； will take any very tall
post…horse with his traces hanging about his legs； and will conduct
him by the bearing…rein into the heart of a country dance of a
hundred and fifty couples； that lady or gentleman will then； and
only then； form an adequate idea of the extent to which that post…
horse will tread on his conductor's toes。 Over and above which； the
post…horse； finding three hundred people whirling about him； will
probably rear； and also lash out with his hind legs； in a manner
incompatible with dignity or self…respect on his conductor's part。
With such little drawbacks on my usually impressive aspect； I
appeared at this Cornish Inn； to the unutterable wonder of the
Cornish Miners。 It was full； and twenty times full； and nobody
could be received but the post…horse；though to get rid of that
noble animal was something。 While my fellow…travellers and I were
discussing how to pass the night and so much of the next day as must
intervene before the jovial blacksmith and the jovial wheelwright
would be in a condition to go out on the morass and mend the coach；
an honest man stepped forth from the crowd and proposed his unle