approachedthetop，however，thedifficultybecamegreater，andlikewisethedanger；butIwasalightboy，andalmostasnimbleasasquirrel，and，moreover，thenervousfeelingwaswithinme，impellingmeupward。Itwasonlybymeansofaspring，however，thatIwasenabledtotouchthetopofthetree；Isprang，touchedthetopofthetree，andfelladistanceofatleasttwentyfeet，amongstthebranches；hadIfallentothebottomImusthavebeenkilled，butIfellintothemiddleofthetree，andpresentlyfoundmyselfastrideupononeoftheboughs；scratchedandbruisedallover，Ireachedtheground，andregainedmychamberunobserved；I
flungmyselfonmybedquiteexhausted；presentlytheycametotellmethatmymotherwasbetter-theyfoundmeinthestatewhichI
havedescribed，andinafeverbesides。ThefavourablecrisismusthaveoccurredjustaboutthetimethatIperformedthemagictouch；
itcertainlywasacuriouscoincidence，yetIwasnotweakenough，eventhoughachild，tosupposethatIhadbaffledtheevilchancebymydaringfeat。
’Indeed，allthetimethatIwasperformingthesestrangefeats，I