Thethunderboomed，thelightningglared，thestorm-windsraged，thedelugepoureddown。Themimicroyaltyonthestage，withtheirsoakedsatinsclingingtotheirbodies，sloppedaboutankle-deepinwater，warblingtheirsweetestandbest，thefiddlersundertheeavesofthestatesawedawayfordearlife，withthecoldoverflowspoutingdownthebacksoftheirnecks，andthedryandhappyKingsatinhisloftyboxandworehisglovestoribbonsapplauding。
"Moreyet!"criedtheKing；"moreyet——letlooseallthethunder，turnonallthewater!Iwillhangthemanthatraisesanumbrella!"
Whenthismosttremendousandeffectivestormthathadeverbeenproducedinanytheaterwasatlastover，theKing'sapprobationwasmeasureless。Hecried:
"Magnificent，magnificent!ENCORE!Doitagain!"
Butthemanagersucceededinpersuadinghimtorecalltheencore，andsaidthecompanywouldfeelsufficientlyrewardedandcomplimentedinthemerefactthattheencorewasdesiredbyhisMajesty，withoutfatiguinghimwitharepetitiontogratifytheirownvanity。
Duringtheremainderoftheacttheluckyperformerswerethosewhosepartsrequiredchangesofdress；
theotherswereasoaked，bedraggled，anduncomfortablelot，butinthelastdegreepicturesque。Thestagescenerywasruined，trap-doorsweresoswollenthattheywouldn'tworkforaweekafterward，thefinecostumeswerespoiled，andnoendofminordamagesweredonebythatremarkablestorm。
Itwasroyalidea——thatstorm——androyallycarriedout。
ButobservethemoderationoftheKing；hedidnotinsistuponhisencore。Ifhehadbeenagladsome，unreflectingAmericanopera-audience，heprobablywouldhavehadhisstormrepeatedandrepeateduntilhedrownedallthosepeople。
CHAPTERXI
[IPainta"Turner"]
ThesummerdayspassedpleasantlyinHeidelberg。
Wehadaskilledtrainer，andunderhisinstructionsweweregettingourlegsintherightconditionforthecontemplatedpedestriantours；wewerewellsatisfiedwiththeprogresswhichwehadmadeintheGermanlanguage，[1。SeeAppendixDforinformationconcerningthisfearfultongue。]andmorethansatisfiedwithwhatwehadaccomplishedinart。WehadhadthebestinstructorsindrawingandpaintinginGermany——Ha"mmerling，Vogel，Mu"ller，Dietz，andSchumann。Ha"mmerlingtaughtuslandscape-painting。
Vogeltaughtusfigure-drawing，Mu"llertaughtustodostill-life，andDietzandSchumanngaveusafinishingcourseintwospecialties——battle-piecesandshipwrecks。
WhateverIaminArtIowetothesemen。Ihavesomethingofthemannerofeachandallofthem；buttheyallsaidthatI
hadalsoamannerofmyown，andthatitwasconspicuous。
Theysaidtherewasamarkedindividualityaboutmystyle——insomuchthatifIeverpaintedthecommonesttypeofadog，Ishouldbesuretothrowasomethingintotheaspectofthatdogwhichwouldkeephimfrombeingmistakenforthecreationofanyotherartist。
SecretlyIwantedtobelieveallthesekindsayings，butIcouldnot；Iwasafraidthatmymasters'
partialityforme，andprideinme，biasedtheirjudgment。
SoIresolvedtomakeatest。Privately，andunknowntoanyone，Ipaintedmygreatpicture，"HeidelbergCastleIlluminated"——myfirstreallyimportantworkinoils——andhadithungupinthemidstofawildernessofoil-picturesintheArtExhibition，withnonameattachedtoit。Tomygreatgratificationitwasinstantlyrecognizedasmine。
Allthetownflockedtoseeit，andpeopleevencamefromneighboringlocalitiestovisitit。ItmademorestirthananyotherworkintheExhibition。Butthemostgratifyingthingofallwas，thatchancestrangers，passingthrough，whohadnotheardofmypicture，werenotonlydrawntoit，asbyalodestone，themomenttheyenteredthegallery，butalwaystookitfora"Turner。"
Apparentlynobodyhadeverdonethat。Therewereruinedcastlesontheoverhangingcliffsandcragsalltheway；
theseweresaidtohavetheirlegends，likethoseontheRhine，andwhatwasbetterstill，theyhadneverbeeninprint。
Therewasnothinginthebooksaboutthatlovelyregion；
ithadbeenneglectedbythetourist，itwasvirginsoilfortheliterarypioneer。
Meantimetheknapsacks，theroughwalking-suitsandthestoutwalking-shoeswhichwehadordered，werefinishedandbroughttous。AMr。XandayoungMr。Zhadagreedtogowithus。
Wewentaroundoneeveningandbadegood-bytoourfriends，andafterwardhadalittlefarewellbanquetatthehotel。
Wegottobedearly，forwewantedtomakeanearlystart，soastotakeadvantageofthecoolofthemorning。
Wewereoutofbedatbreakofday，feelingfreshandvigorous，andtookaheartybreakfast，thenplungeddownthroughtheleafyarcadesoftheCastlegrounds，towardthetown。Whataglorioussummermorningitwas，andhowtheflowersdidpourouttheirfragrance，andhowthebirdsdidsing!Itwasjustthetimeforatrampthroughthewoodsandmountains。
Wewerealldressedalike:broadslouchhats，tokeepthesunoff；grayknapsacks；bluearmyshirts；blueoveralls；
leatherngaitersbuttonedtightfromkneedowntoankle；
high-quartercoarseshoessnuglylaced。Eachmanhadanopera-glass，acanteen，andaguide-bookcaseslungoverhisshoulder，andcarriedanalpenstockinonehandandasun-umbrellaintheother。Aroundourhatswerewoundmanyfoldsofsoftwhitemuslin，withtheendshangingandflappingdownourbacks——anideabroughtfromtheOrientandusedbytouristsalloverEurope。
Harriscarriedthelittlewatch-likemachinecalleda"pedometer，"whoseofficeistokeepcountofaman'sstepsandtellhowfarhehaswalked。Everybodystoppedtoadmireourcostumesandgiveusahearty"Pleasantmarchtoyou!"
WhenwegotdowntownIfoundthatwecouldgobyrailtowithinfivemilesofHeilbronn。Thetrainwasjuststarting，sowejumpedaboardandwenttearingawayinsplendidspirits。
Itwasagreedallaroundthatwehaddonewisely，becauseitwouldbejustasenjoyabletowalkDOWNtheNeckarasupit，anditcouldnotbeneedfultowalkbothways。
ThereweresomeniceGermanpeopleinourcompartment。
Igottotalkingsomeprettyprivatematterspresently，andHarrisbecamenervous；sohenudgedmeandsaid:
"SpeakinGerman——theseGermansmayunderstandEnglish。"
Ididso，itwaswellIdid；foritturnedoutthattherewasnotaGermaninthatpartywhodidnotunderstandEnglishperfectly。ItiscurioushowwidespreadourlanguageisinGermany。AfterawhilesomeofthosefolksgotoutandaGermangentlemanandhistwoyoungdaughtersgotin。
IspokeinGermanofoneofthelatterseveraltimes，butwithoutresult。Finallyshesaid:
"ICHVERSTEHENURDEUTCHUNDENGLISHE，"——orwordstothateffect。Thatis，"Idon'tunderstandanylanguagebutGermanandEnglish。"
Andsureenough，notonlyshebutherfatherandsisterspokeEnglish。Soafterthatwehadallthetalkwewanted；
andwewantedagooddeal，fortheywereagreeablepeople。
Theyweregreatlyinterestedinourcustoms；especiallythealpenstocks，fortheyhadnotseenanybefore。
TheysaidthattheNeckarroadwasperfectlylevel，sowemustbegoingtoSwitzerlandorsomeotherruggedcountry；
andaskedusifwedidnotfindthewalkingprettyfatiguinginsuchwarmweather。Butwesaidno。
WereachedWimpfen——IthinkitwasWimpfen——inaboutthreehours，andgotout，nottheleasttired；foundagoodhotelandorderedbeeranddinner——thentookastrollthroughthevenerableoldvillage。Itwasverypicturesqueandtumble-down，anddirtyandinteresting。
Ithadqueerhousesfivehundredyearsoldinit，andamilitarytower115feethigh，whichhadstoodtheremorethantencenturies。Imadealittlesketchofit。
Ikeptacopy，butgavetheoriginaltotheBurgomaster。
Ithinktheoriginalwasbetterthanthecopy，becauseithadmorewindowsinitandthegrassstoodupbetterandhadabriskerlook。Therewasnonearoundthetower，though；
Icomposedthegrassmyself，fromstudiesImadeinafieldbyHeidelberginHa"mmerling'stime。Themanontop，lookingattheview，isapparentlytoolarge，butIfoundhecouldnotbemadesmaller，conveniently。Iwantedhimthere，andIwantedhimvisible，soIthoughtoutawaytomanageit；Icomposedthepicturefromtwopointsofview；thespectatoristoobservethemanfromboutwherethatflagis，andhemustobservethetoweritselffromtheground。Thisharmonizestheseemingdiscrepancy。
[Figure2]
Nearanoldcathedral，underashed，werethreecrossesofstone——moldyanddamagedthings，bearinglife-sizestonefigures。Thetwothievesweredressedinthefancifulcourtcostumesofthemiddleofthesixteenthcentury，whiletheSaviourwasnude，withtheexceptionofaclotharoundtheloins。
WehaddinnerunderthegreentreesinagardenbelongingtothehotelandoverlookingtheNeckar；then，afterasmoke，wewenttobed。Wehadarefreshingnap，thengotupaboutthreeintheafternoonandputonourpanoply。
Aswetrampedgailyoutatthegateofthetown，weovertookapeasant'scart，partlyladenwithoddsandendsofcabbagesandsimilarvegetablerubbish，anddrawnbyasmallcowandasmallerdonkeyyokedtogether。
Itwasaprettyslowconcern，butitgotusintoHeilbronnbeforedark——fivemiles，orpossiblyitwasseven。
Westoppedattheverysameinnwhichthefamousoldrobber-knightandroughfighterGo"tzvonBerlichingen，abodeinafterhegotoutofcaptivityintheSquareTowerofHeilbronnbetweenthreehundredandfiftyandfourhundredyearsago。HarrisandIoccupiedthesameroomwhichhehadoccupiedandthesamepaperhadnotquitepeeledoffthewallsyet。Thefurniturewasquaintoldcarvedstuff，fullfourhundredyearsold，andsomeofthesmellswereoverathousand。Therewasahookinthewall，whichthelandlordsaidtheterrificoldGo"tzusedtohanghisironhandonwhenhetookitofftogotobed。
Thisroomwasverylarge——itmightbecalledimmense——
anditwasonthefirstfloor；whichmeansitwasinthesecondstory，forinEuropethehousesaresohighthattheydonotcountthefirststory，elsetheywouldgettiredclimbingbeforetheygottothetop。
Thewallpaperwasafieryred，withhugegoldfiguresinit，wellsmirchedbytime，anditcoveredallthedoors。
Thesedoorsfittedsosnuglyandcontinuedthefiguresofthepapersounbrokenly，thatwhentheywereclosedonehadtogofeelingandsearchingalongthewalltofindthem。Therewasastoveinthecorner——oneofthosetall，square，statelywhiteporcelainthingsthatlookslikeamonumentandkeepsyouthinkingofdeathwhenyououghttobeenjoyingyourtravels。
Thewindowslookedoutonalittlealley，andoverthatintoastableandsomepoultryandpigyardsintherearofsometenement-houses。Therewerethecustomarytwobedsintheroom，oneinoneend，theotherintheother，aboutanold-fashionedbrass-mounted，single-barreledpistol-shotapart。TheywerefullyasnarrowastheusualGermanbed，too，andhadtheGermanbed'sineradicablehabitofspillingtheblanketsontheflooreverytimeyouforgotyourselfandwenttosleep。
AroundtableaslargeasKingArthur'sstoodinthecenteroftheroom；whilethewaitersweregettingreadytoserveourdinneronitweallwentouttoseetherenownedclockonthefrontofthemunicipalbuildings。
CHAPTERXII
[WhattheWivesSaved]
TheRATHHAUS，ormunicipalbuilding，isofthequaintestandmostpicturesqueMiddle-Agearchitecture。Ithasamassiveporticoandsteps，beforeit，heavilybalustraded，andadornedwithlife-sizedrustyironknightsincompletearmor。Theclock-faceonthefrontofthebuildingisverylargeandofcuriouspattern。Ordinarily，agildedangelstrikesthehouronabigbellwithahammer；
asthestrikingceases，alife-sizedfigureofTimeraisesitshour-glassandturnsit；twogoldenramsadvanceandbutteachother；agildedcockliftsitswings；
butthemainfeaturesaretwogreatangels，whostandoneachsideofthedialwithlonghornsattheirlips；
itwassaidthattheyblewmelodiousblastsonthesehornseveryhour——buttheydidnotdoitforus。
Weweretold，later，thantheyblewonlyatnight，whenthetownwasstill。
WithintheRATHHAUSwereanumberofhugewildboars'
heads，preserved，andmountedonbracketsalongthewall；
theyboreinscriptionstellingwhokilledthemandhowmanyhundredyearsagoitwasdone。Oneroominthebuildingwasdevotedtothepreservationofancientarchives。
Theretheyshowedusnoendofageddocuments；someweresignedbyPopes，somebyTillyandothergreatgenerals，andonewasaletterwrittenandsubscribedbyGo"tzvonBerlichingeninHeilbronnin1519justafterhisreleasefromtheSquareTower。
Thisfineoldrobber-knightwasadevoutlyandsincerelyreligiousman，hospitable，charitabletothepoor，fearlessinfight，active，enterprising，andpossessedofalargeandgenerousnature。Hehadinhimaqualityofbeingabletooverlookmoderateinjuries，andbeingabletoforgiveandforgetmortalonesassoonashehadsoundlytrouncedtheauthorsofthem。
Hewasprompttotakeupanypoordevil'squarrelandriskhisnecktorighthim。Thecommonfolkheldhimdear，andhismemoryisstillgreeninballadandtradition。
Heusedtogoonthehighwayandrobrichwayfarers；
andothertimeshewouldswoopdownfromhishighcastleonthehillsoftheNeckarandcapturepassingcargoesofmerchandise。InhismemoirshepiouslythankstheGiverofallGoodforrememberinghiminhisneedsanddeliveringsundrysuchcargoesintohishandsattimeswhenonlyspecialprovidencescouldhaverelievedhim。
Hewasadoughtywarriorandfoundadeepjoyinbattle。
InanassaultuponastrongholdinBavariawhenhewasonlytwenty-threeyearsold，hisrighthandwasshotaway，buthewassointerestedinthefightthathedidnotobserveitforawhile。Hesaidthattheironhandwhichwasmadeforhimafterward，andwhichheworeformorethanhalfacentury，wasnearlyascleveramemberasthefleshyonehadbeen。IwasgladtogetafacsimileoftheletterwrittenbythisfineoldGermanRobinHood，thoughIwasnotabletoreadit。Hewasabetterartistwithhisswordthanwithhispen。
WewentdownbytheriverandsawtheSquareTower。
Itwasaveryvenerablestructure，verystrong，andveryornamental。Therewasnoopeningneartheground。
Theyhadtousealaddertogetintoit，nodoubt。
Wevisitedtheprincipalchurch，also——acuriousoldstructure，withatowerlikespireadornedwithallsortsofgrotesqueimages。Theinnerwallsofthechurchwereplacardedwithlargemuraltabletsofcopper，bearingengravedinscriptionscelebratingthemeritsofoldHeilbronnworthiesoftwoorthreecenturiesago，andalsobearingrudelypaintedeffigiesofthemselvesandtheirfamiliestrickedoutinthequeercostumesofthosedays。Theheadofthefamilysatintheforeground，andbeyondhimextendedasharplyrecedinganddiminishingrowofsons；facinghimsathiswife，andbeyondherextendedalowrowofdiminishingdaughters。
Thefamilywasusuallylarge，buttheperspectivebad。
ThenwehiredthehackandthehorsewhichGo"tzvonBerlichingenusedtouse，anddroveseveralmilesintothecountrytovisittheplacecalledWEIBERTREU——Wife'sFidelityIsupposeitmeans。ItwasafeudalcastleoftheMiddleAges。Whenwereacheditsneighborhoodwefounditwasbeautifullysituated，butontopofamound，orhill，roundandtolerablysteep，andabouttwohundredfeethigh。Therefore，asthesunwasblazinghot，wedidnotclimbupthere，buttooktheplaceontrust，andobserveditfromadistancewhilethehorseleanedupagainstafenceandrested。Theplacehasnointerestexceptthatwhichislentitbyitslegend，whichisaveryprettyone——tothiseffect:
THELEGEND
IntheMiddleAges，acoupleofyoungdukes，brothers，tookoppositesidesinoneofthewars，theonefightingfortheEmperor，theotheragainsthim。OneofthemownedthecastleandvillageontopofthemoundwhichI
havebeenspeakingof，andinhisabsencehisbrothercamewithhisknightsandsoldiersandbeganasiege。
Itwasalongandtediousbusiness，forthepeoplemadeastubbornandfaithfuldefense。Butatlasttheirsuppliesranoutandstarvationbeganitswork；
morefellbyhungerthanbythemissilesoftheenemy。
Theybyandbysurrendered，andbeggedforcharitableterms。
Butthebeleagueringprincewassoincensedagainstthemfortheirlongresistancethathesaidhewouldsparenonebutthewomenandchildren——allmenshouldbeputtotheswordwithoutexception，andalltheirgoodsdestroyed。
Thenthewomencameandfellontheirkneesandbeggedforthelivesoftheirhusbands。
"No，"saidtheprince，"notamanofthemshallescapealive；
youyourselvesshallgowithyourchildrenintohouselessandfriendlessbanishment；butthatyoumaynotstarveIgrantyouthisonegrace，thateachwomanmaybearwithherfromthisplaceasmuchofhermostvaluablepropertyassheisabletocarry。"
Verywell，presentlythegatesswungopenandoutfiledthosewomencarryingtheirHUSBANDSontheirshoulders。
Thebesiegers，furiousatthetrick，rushedforwardtoslaughterthemen，buttheDukesteppedbetweenandsaid:
"No，putupyourswords——aprince'swordisinviolable。"
Whenwegotbacktothehotel，KingArthur'sRoundTablewasreadyforusinitswhitedrapery，andtheheadwaiterandhisfirstassistant，inswallow-tailsandwhitecravats，broughtinthesoupandthehotplatesatonce。
Mr。Xhadorderedthedinner，andwhenthewinecameon，hepickedupabottle，glancedatthelabel，andthenturnedtothegrave，themelancholy，thesepulchralheadwaiterandsaiditwasnotthesortofwinehehadaskedfor。
Theheadwaiterpickedupthebottle，casthisundertaker-eyeonitandsaid:
"Itistrue；Ibegpardon。"Thenheturnedonhissubordinateandcalmlysaid，"Bringanotherlabel。"
Atthesametimeheslidthepresentlabeloffwithhishandandlaiditaside；ithadbeennewlyputon，itspastewasstillwet。Whenthenewlabelcame，heputiton；
ourFrenchwinebeingnowturnedintoGermanwine，accordingtodesire，theheadwaiterwentblandlyabouthisotherduties，asiftheworkingofthissortofmiraclewasacommonandeasythingtohim。
Mr。Xsaidhehadnotknown，before，thattherewerepeoplehonestenoughtodothismiracleinpublic，buthewasawarethatthousandsuponthousandsoflabelswereimportedintoAmericafromEuropeeveryyear，toenabledealerstofurnishtotheircustomersinaquietandinexpensivewayallthedifferentkindsofforeignwinestheymightrequire。
Wetookaturnaroundthetown，afterdinner，andfounditfullyasinterestinginthemoonlightasithadbeeninthedaytime。Thestreetswerenarrowandroughlypaved，andtherewasnotasidewalkorastreet-lampanywhere。
Thedwellingswerecenturiesold，andvastenoughforhotels。
Theywidenedallthewayup；thestoriesprojectedfurtherandfurtherforwardandasideastheyascended，andthelongrowsoflightedwindows，filledwithlittlebitsofpanes，curtainedwithfiguredwhitemuslinandadornedoutsidewithboxesofflowers，madeaprettyeffect。
Themoonwasbright，andthelightandshadowverystrong；
andnothingcouldbemorepicturesquethanthosecurvingstreets，withtheirrowsofhugehighgablesleaningfarovertowardeachotherinafriendlygossipingway，andthecrowdsbelowdriftingthroughthealternatingblotsofgloomandmellowbarsofmoonlight。Nearlyeverybodywasabroad，chatting，singing，romping，ormassedinlazycomfortableattitudesinthedoorways。
Inoneplacetherewasapublicbuildingwhichwasfencedaboutwithathick，rustychain，whichsaggedfromposttopostinasuccessionoflowswings。
Thepavement，here，wasmadeofheavyblocksofstone。
Intheglareofthemoonapartyofbarefootedchildrenwereswingingonthosechainsandhavinganoisygoodtime。
Theywerenotthefirstoneswhohavedonethat；
eventheirgreat-great-grandfathershadnotbeenthefirsttodoitwhentheywerechildren。Thestrokesofthebarefeethadworngroovesinchesdeepinthestoneflags；
ithadtakenmanygenerationsofswingingchildrentoaccomplishthat。Everywhereinthetownwerethemoldanddecaythatgowithantiquity，andevidenceofit；
butIdonotknowthatanythingelsegaveussovividasenseoftheoldageofHeilbronnasthosefootworngroovesinthepaving-stones。
CHAPTERXIII
[MyLongCrawlintheDark]
WhenwegotbacktothehotelIwoundandsetthepedometerandputitinmypocket，forIwastocarryitnextdayandkeeprecordofthemileswemade。
Theworkwhichwehadgiventheinstrumenttododuringwhichhadjustclosedhadnotfatigueditperceptibly。
Wewereinbedbyten，forwewantedtobeupandawayonourtramphomewardwiththedawn。Ihungfire，butHarriswenttosleepatonce。Ihateamanwhogoestosleepatonce；thereisasortofindefinablesomethingaboutitwhichisnotexactlyaninsult，andyetisaninsolence；
andonewhichishardtobear，too。Ilaytherefrettingoverthisinjury，andtryingtogotosleep；buttheharderItried，thewiderawakeIgrew。Igottofeelingverylonelyinthedark，ithnocompanybutanundigesteddinner。
Mymindgotastartbyandby，andbegantoconsiderthebeginningofeverysubjectwhichhaseverbeenthoughtof；
butitneverwentfurtherthanthebeginning；itwastouchandgo；itfledfromtopictotopicwithafranticspeed。
AttheendofanhourmyheadwasinaperfectwhirlandI
wasdeadtired，faggedout。
Thefatiguewassogreatthatitpresentlybegantomakesomeheadagainstthenervousexcitement；whileimaginingmyselfwideawake，Iwouldreallydozeintomomentaryunconsciousness，andcomesuddenlyoutofitwithaphysicaljerkwhichnearlywrenchedmyjointsapart——thedelusionoftheinstantbeingthatIwastumblingbackwardoveraprecipice。
AfterIhadfallenovereightornineprecipicesandthusfoundoutthatonehalfofmybrainhadbeenasleepeightorninetimeswithoutthewide-awake，hard-workingotherhalfsuspectingit，theperiodicalunconsciousnessesbegantoextendtheirspellgraduallyovermoreofmybrain-territory，andatlastIsankintoadrowsewhichgrewdeeperanddeeperandwasdoubtlessjustontheverypointofbeingasolid，blesseddreamlessstupor，when——whatwasthat?
Mydulledfacultiesdraggedthemselvespartlybacktolifeandtookareceptiveattitude。Nowoutofanimmense，alimitlessdistance，cameasomethingwhichgrewandgrew，andapproached，andpresentlywasrecognizableasasound——
ithadratherseemedtobeafeeling，before。Thissoundwasamileaway，now——perhapsitwasthemurmurofastorm；
andnowitwasnearer——notaquarterofamileaway；
wasitthemuffledraspingandgrindingofdistantmachinery?No，itcamestillnearer；wasitthemeasuredtrampofamarchingtroop?Butitcamenearerstill，andstillnearer——andatlastitwasrightintheroom:itwasmerelyamousegnawingthewoodwork。SoIhadheldmybreathallthattimeforsuchatrifle。
Well，whatwasdonecouldnotbehelped；Iwouldgotosleepatonceandmakeupthelosttime。Thatwasathoughtlessthought。Withoutintendingit——hardlyknowingit——Ifelltolisteningintentlytothatsound，andevenunconsciouslycountingthestrokesofthemouse'snutmeg-grater。PresentlyIwasderivingexquisitesufferingfromthisemployment，yetmaybeIcouldhaveendureditifthemousehadattendedsteadilytohiswork；
buthedidnotdothat；hestoppedeverynowandthen，andIsufferedmorewhilewaitingandlisteningforhimtobeginagainthanIdidwhilehewasgnawing。
AlongatfirstIwasmentallyofferingarewardoffive——six——seven——ten——dollarsforthatmouse；
buttowardthelastIwasofferingrewardswhichwereentirelybeyondmymeans。Iclose-reefedmyears——
thatistosay，Ibenttheflapsofthemdownandfurledthemintofiveorsixfolds，andpressedthemagainstthehearing-orifice——butitdidnogood:thefacultywassosharpenedbynervousexcitementthatitwasbecomeamicrophoneandcouldhearthroughtheoverlayswithouttrouble。
Myangergrewtoafrenzy。Ifinallydidwhatallpersonsbeforemehavedone，clearbacktoAdam，——resolvedtothrowsomething。Ireacheddownandgotmywalking-shoes，thensatupinbedandlistened，inordertoexactlylocatethenoise。ButIcouldn'tdoit；itwasasunlocatableasacricket'snoise；andwhereonethinksthatthatis，isalwaystheveryplacewhereitisn't。SoIpresentlyhurledashoeatrandom，andwithaviciousvigor。
ItstruckthewalloverHarris'sheadandfelldownonhim；
IhadnotimaginedIcouldthrowsofar。ItwokeHarris，andIwasgladofituntilIfoundhewasnotangry；
thenIwassorry。Hesoonwenttosleepagain，whichpleasedme；butstraightwaythemousebeganagain，whichrousedmytemperoncemore。IdidnotwanttowakeHarrisasecondtime，butthegnawingcontinueduntilI
wascompelledtothrowtheothershoe。ThistimeIbrokeamirror——thereweretwointheroom——Igotthelargestone，ofcourse。Harriswokeagain，butdidnotcomplain，andIwassorrierthanever。IresolvedthatIwouldsufferallpossibletorturebeforeIwoulddisturbhimathirdtime。
Themouseeventuallyretired，andbyandbyIwassinkingtosleep，whenaclockbegantostrike；Icountedtillitwasdone，andwasabouttodrowseagainwhenanotherclockbegan；Icounted；thenthetwogreatRATHHAUSclockangelsbegantosendforthsoft，rich，melodiousblastsfromtheirlongtrumpets。Ihadneverheardanythingthatwassolovely，orweird，ormysterious——butwhentheygottoblowingthequarter-hours，theyseemedtometobeoverdoingthething。EverytimeIdroppedoffforthemoment，anewnoisewokeme。EachtimeIwokeImissedmycoverlet，andhadtoreachdowntothefloorandgetitagain。
Atlastallsleepinessforsookme。IrecognizedthefactthatIwashopelesslyandpermanentlywideawake。
Wideawake，andfeverishandthirsty。WhenIhadlaintossingthereaslongasIcouldendureit，itoccurredtomethatitwouldbeagoodideatodressandgooutinthegreatsquareandtakearefreshingwashinthefountain，andsmokeandreflectthereuntiltheremnantofthenightwasgone。
IbelievedIcoulddressinthedarkwithoutwakingHarris。
Ihadbanishedmyshoesafterthemouse，butmyslipperswoulddoforasummernight。SoIrosesoftly，andgraduallygotoneverything——downtoonesock。Icouldn'tseemtogetonthetrackofthatsock，anywayIcouldfixit。
ButIhadtohaveit；soIwentdownonmyhandsandknees，withoneslipperonandtheotherinmyhand，andbegantopawgentlyaroundandrakethefloor，butwithnosuccess。
Ienlargedmycircle，andwentonpawingandraking。
Witheverypressureofmyknee，howthefloorcreaked!
andeverytimeIchancedtorakeagainstanyarticle，itseemedtogiveoutthirty-fiveorthirty-sixtimesmorenoisethanitwouldhavedoneinthedaytime。
InthosecasesIalwaysstoppedandheldmybreathtillI
wassureHarrishadnotawakened——thenIcreptalongagain。
Imovedonandon，butIcouldnotfindthesock；
Icouldnotseemtofindanythingbutfurniture。
IcouldnotrememberthattherewasmuchfurnitureintheroomwhenIwenttobed，buttheplacewasalivewithitnow——especiallychairs——chairseverywhere——
hadacoupleoffamiliesmovedin，inthemeantime?AndInevercouldseemtoGLANCEononeofthosechairs，butalwaysstruckitfullandsquarewithmyhead。
Mytemperrose，bysteadyandsuredegrees，andasI
pawedonandon，Ifelltomakingviciouscommentsundermybreath。
Finally，withavenomousaccessofirritation，IsaidI
wouldleavewithoutthesock；soIroseupandmadestraightforthedoor——asIsupposed——andsuddenlyconfrontedmydimspectralimageintheunbrokenmirror。Itstartledthebreathoutofme，foraninstant；italsoshowedmethatIwaslost，andhadnosortofideawhereIwas。
WhenIrealizedthis，IwassoangrythatIhadtositdownonthefloorandtakeholdofsomethingtokeepfromliftingtheroofoffwithanexplosionofopinion。
Iftherehadbeenonlyonemirror，itmightpossiblyhavehelpedtolocateme；butthereweretwo，andtwowereasbadasathousand；besides，thesewereonoppositesidesoftheroom。Icouldseethedimblurofthewindows，butinmyturned-aroundconditiontheywereexactlywheretheyoughtnottobe，andsotheyonlyconfusedmeinsteadofhelpingme。
Istartedtogetup，andknockeddownanumbrella；
itmadeanoiselikeapistol-shotwhenitstruckthathard，slick，carpetlessfloor；Igratedmyteethandheldmybreath——Harrisdidnotstir。Isettheumbrellaslowlyandcarefullyonendagainstthewall，butassoonasItookmyhandaway，itsheelslippedfromunderit，anddownitcameagainwithanotherbang。
Ishrunktogetherandlistenedamomentinsilentfury——
noharmdone，everythingquiet。Withthemostpainstakingcareandnicety，Istoodtheumbrellauponcemore，tookmyhandaway，anddownitcameagain。
Ihavebeenstrictlyreared，butifithadnotbeensodarkandsolemnandawfulthereinthatlonely，vastroom，IdobelieveIshouldhavesaidsomethingthenwhichcouldnotbeputintoaSunday-schoolbookwithoutinjuringthesaleofit。Ifmyreasoningpowershadnotbeenalreadysappeddrybymyharassments，IwouldhaveknownbetterthantotrytosetanumbrellaonendononeofthoseglassyGermanfloorsinthedark；
itcan'tbedoneinthedaytimewithoutfourfailurestoonesuccess。Ihadonecomfort，though——Harriswasyetstillandsilent——hehadnotstirred。
Theumbrellacouldnotlocateme——therewerefourstandingaroundtheroom，andallalike。IthoughtI
wouldfeelalongthewallandfindthedoorinthatway。
Iroseupandbeganthisoperation，butrakeddownapicture。Itwasnotalargeone，butitmadenoiseenoughforapanorama。Harrisgaveoutnosound，butI
feltthatifIexperimentedanyfurtherwiththepicturesIshouldbesuretowakehim。Bettergiveuptryingtogetout。Yes，IwouldfindKingArthur'sRoundTableoncemore——Ihadalreadyfounditseveraltimes——anduseitforabaseofdepartureonanexploringtourformybed；
ifIcouldfindmybedIcouldthenfindmywaterpitcher；
Iwouldquenchmyragingthirstandturnin。SoIstartedonmyhandsandknees，becauseIcouldgofasterthatway，andwithmoreconfidence，too，andnotknockdownthings。
ByandbyIfoundthetable——withmyhead——rubbedthebruisealittle，thenroseupandstarted，withhandsabroadandfingersspread，tobalancemyself。Ifoundachair；thenawall；thenanotherchair；thenasofa；
thenanalpenstock，thenanothersofa；thisconfoundedme，forIhadthoughttherewasonlyonesofa。Ihuntedupthetableagainandtookafreshstart；foundsomemorechairs。
Itoccurredtome，now，asitoughttohavedonebefore，thatasthetablewasround，itwasthereforeofnovalueasabasetoaimfrom；soImovedoffoncemore，andatrandomamongthewildernessofchairsandsofas——
wanderingoffintounfamiliarregions，andpresentlyknockedacandlestickandknockedoffalamp，grabbedatthelampandknockedoffawaterpitcherwitharattlingcrash，andthoughttomyself，"I'vefoundyouatlast——I
judgedIwascloseuponyou。"Harrisshouted"murder，"
and"thieves，"andfinishedwith"I'mabsolutelydrowned。"
Thecrashhadrousedthehouse。Mr。Xprancedin，inhislongnight-garment，withacandle，youngZafterhimwithanothercandle；aprocessionsweptinatanotherdoor，withcandlesandlanterns——landlordandtwoGermanguestsintheirnightgownsandachambermaidinhers。
Ilookedaround；IwasatHarris'sbed，aSabbath-day'sjourneyfrommyown。Therewasonlyonesofa；itwasagainstthewall；therewasonlyonechairwhereabodycouldgetatit——Ihadbeenrevolvingarounditlikeaplanet，andcollidingwithitlikeacomethalfthenight。