MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-2

[4104] But I did not go far. [4105] For I soon stopped on the crest of a rise from
where I could ^survey, without fatigue, the camp-site and the surrounding
country. [4106] And I made this curious observation, that the land from where I
was, and even the clouds in the sky, were so disposed as to lead the eyes
gently to the camp, as in a painting by an old master. [4107] I made myself as
comfortable as possible.

[4108] I got rid of my various burdens and I ate a
whole tin of sardines and one apple. [4109] I lay down flat on my stomach on my
son's coat. [4110] And now I propped my elbows on the ground and my jaws between
my hands, which carried my eyes towards the horizon, and now I made a
little cus^hion of my two hands on the ground and laid my cheek upon it,
five minutes one, five minutes the other, all the while flat on my stomach.

[4111] I could have made myself a pi^llow of the ba^gs, but I did not, it did not
occur to me. [4112] The day passed tranquilly, without incident. [4113] And the only
thing that relieved the monotony of this third day was a dog. When I first
saw him he was sniffing about the remains of my fire, then he went into
the copse.

[4114] But I did not see him come out again, either because my
attention was elsewhere, or because he went out the other side, having
simply as it were gone straight through it. [4115] I mended my hat, that is to
say with the tin-opener I pierced a new hole beside the old one and made
fast the elastic again.

[4116] And I also mended the ring, twisting the two
pieces together, and I slipped on the keys and made fast the long chain
again. [4117] And to kill time I asked myself a certain number of questions and
tried to answer them. [4118] For example.

[4119] Question. What had happened to the blue felt hat?
[4120] Answer.
[4121] Question. Would they not suspect the old man with the stick?
[4122] Answer. Very probably.
[4123] Question. What were his chances of exonerating himself?
[4124] Answer. Slight.