Travels　with　a　Donkey　in　the　Cevennes
  by　Robert　Louis　Stevenson。
  My　Dear　Sidney　Colvin；
  The　journey　which　this　little　book　is　to　describe　was　very
  agreeable　and　fortunate　for　me。　　After　an　uncouth　beginning；　I　had
  the　best　of　luck　to　the　end。　　But　we　are　all　travellers　in　what
  John　Bunyan　calls　the　wilderness　of　this　world　…　all；　too；
  travellers　with　a　donkey：　　and　the　best　that　we　find　in　our　travels
  is　an　honest　friend。　　He　is　a　fortunate　voyager　who　finds　many。　　We
  travel；　indeed；　to　find　them。　　They　are　the　end　and　the　reward　of
  life。　　They　keep　us　worthy　of　ourselves；　and　when　we　are　alone；　we
  are　only　nearer　to　the　absent。
  Every　book　is；　in　an　intimate　sense；　a　circular　letter　to　the
  friends　of　him　who　writes　it。　　They　alone　take　his　meaning；　they
  find　private　messages；　assurances　of　love；　and　expressions　of
  gratitude；　dropped　for　them　in　every　corner。　　The　public　is　but　a
  generous　patron　who　defrays　the　postage。　　Yet　through　the　letter　is
  directed　to　all；　we　have　an　old　and　kindly　custom　of　addressing　it
  on　the　outside　to　one。　　Of　what　shall　a　man　be　proud；　if　he　is　not
  proud　of　his　friends？　　And　so；　my　dear　Sidney　Colvin；　it　is　with
  pride　that　I　sign　myself　affectionately　yours；
  R。　L。　S。
  VELAY
  Many　are　the　mighty　things；　and　nought　is　more　mighty　than　man。　。　。
  。　。　He　masters　by　his　devices　the　tenant　of　the　fields。
  SOPHOCLES。
  Who　hath　loosed　the　bands　of　the　wild　ass？
  JOB。
  THE　DONKEY；　THE　PACK；　AND　THE　PACK…SADDLE
  IN　a　little　place　called　Le　Monastier；　in　a　pleasant　highland
  valley　fifteen　miles　from　Le　Puy；　I　spent　about　a　month　of　fine
  days。　　Monastier　is　notable　for　the　making　of　lace；　for
  drunkenness；　for　freedom　of　language；　and　for　unparalleled
  political　dissension。　　There　are　adherents　of　each　of　the　four
  French　parties　…　Legitimists；　Orleanists；　Imperialists；　and
  Republicans　…　in　this　little　mountain…town；　and　they　all　hate；
  loathe；　decry；　and　calumniate　each　other。　　Except　for　business
  purposes；　or　to　give　each　other　the　lie　in　a　tavern　brawl；　they
  have　laid　aside　even　the　civility　of　speech。　　'Tis　a　mere　mountain
  Poland。　　In　the　midst　of　this　Babylon　I　found　myself　a　rallying…
  point；　every　one　was　anxious　to　be　kind　and　helpful　to　the
  stranger。　　This　was　not　merely　from　the　natural　hospitality　of
  mountain　people；　nor　even　from　the　surprise　with　which　I　was
  regarded　as　a　man　living　of　his　own　free　will　in　Le　Monastier；　when
  he　might　just　as　well　have　lived　anywhere　else　in　this　big　world；
  it　arose　a　good　deal　from　my　projected　excursion　southward　through
  the　Cevennes。　　A　traveller　of　my　sort　was　a　thing　hitherto　unheard
  of　in　that　district。　　I　was　looked　upon　with　contempt；　like　a　man
  who　should　project　a　journey　to　the　moon；　but　yet　with　a　respectful
  interest；　like　one　setting　forth　for　the　inclement　Pole。　　All　were
  ready　to　help　in　my　preparations；　a　crowd　of　sympathisers　supported
  me　at　the　critical　moment　of　a　bargain；　not　a　step　was　taken　but
  was　heralded　by　glasses　round　and　celebrated　by　a　dinner　or　a
  breakfast。
  It　was　already　hard　upon　October　before　I　was　ready　to　set　forth；
  and　at　the　high　altitudes　over　which　my　road　lay　there　was　no
  Indian　summer　to　be　looked　for。　　I　was　determined；　if　not　to　camp
  out；　at　least　to　have　the　means　of　camping　out　in　my　possession；
  for　there　is　nothing　more　harassing　to　an　easy　mind　than　the
  necessity　of　reaching　shelter　by　dusk；　and　the　hospitality　of　a
  village　inn　is　not　always　to　be　reckoned　sure　by　those　who　trudge
  on　foot。　　A　tent；　above　all　for　a　solitary　traveller；　is
  troublesome　to　pitch；　and　troublesome　to　strike　again；　and　even　on
  the　march　it　forms　a　conspicuous　feature　in　your　baggage。　　A
  sleeping…sack；　on　the　other　hand；　is　always　ready　…　you　have　only
  to　get　into　it；　it　serves　a　double　purpose　…　a　bed　by　night；　a
  portmanteau　by　day；　and　it　does　not　advertise　your　intention　of
  camping　out　to　every　curious　passer…by。　　This　is　a　huge　point。　　If
  a　camp　is　not　secret；　it　is　but　a　troubled　resting…place；　you
  become　a　public　character；　the　convivial　rustic　visits　your　bedside
  after　an　early　supper；　and　you　must　sleep　with　one　eye　open；　and　be
  up　before　the　day。　　I　decided　on　a　sleeping…sack；　and　after
  repeated　visits　to　Le　Puy；　and　a　deal　of　high　living　for　myself　and
  my　advisers；　a　sleeping…sack　was　designed；　constructed；　and
  triumphantly　brought　home。
  This　child　of　my　invention　was　nearly　six　feet　square；　exclusive　of
  two　triangular　flaps　to　serve　as　a　pillow　by　night　and　as　the　top
  and　bottom　of　the　sack　by　day。　　I　call　it　'the　sack；'　but　it　was
  never　a　sack　by　more　than　courtesy：　　only　a　sort　of　long　roll　or
  sausage；　green　waterproof　cart…cloth　without　and　blue　sheep's　fur
  within。　　It　was　commodious　as　a　valise；　warm　and　dry　for　a　bed。
  There　was　luxurious　turning　room　for　one；　and　at　a　pinch　the　thing
  might　serve　for　two。　　I　could　bury　myself　in　it　up　to　the　neck；　for
  my　head　I　trusted　to　a　fur　cap；　with　a　hood　to　fold　down　over　my
  ears　and　a　band　to　pass　under　my　nose　like　a　respirator；　and　in
  case　of　heavy　rain　I　proposed　to　make　myself　a　little　tent；　or
  tentlet；　with　my　waterproof　coat；　three　stones；　and　a　bent　branch。
  It　will　readily　be　conceived　that　I　could　not　carry　this　huge
  package　on　my　own；　merely　human；　shoulders。　　It　remained　to　choose
  a　beast　of　burden。　　Now；　a　horse　is　a　fine　lady　among　animals；
  flighty；　timid；　delicate　in　eating；　of　tender　health；　he　is　too
  valuable　and　too　restive　to　be　left　alone；　so　that　you　are　chained
  to　your　brute　as　to　a　fellow　galley…slave；　a　dangerous　road　puts
  him　out　of　his　wits；　in　short；　he's　an　uncertain　and　exacting　ally；
  and　adds　thirty…fold　to　the　troubles　of　the　voyager。　　What　I
  required　was　something　cheap　and　small　and　hardy；　and　of　a　stolid
  and　peaceful　temper；　and　all　these　requisites　pointed　to　a　donkey。
  There　dwelt　an　old　man　in　Monastier；　of　rather　unsound　intellect
  according　to　some；　much　followed　by　street…boys；　and　known　to　fame
  as　Father　Adam。　　Father　Adam　had　a　cart；　and　to　draw　the　cart　a
  diminutive　she…ass；　not　much　bigger　than　a　dog；　the　colour　of　a
  mouse；　with　a　kindly　eye　and　a　determined　under…jaw。　　There　was
  something　neat　and　high…bred；　a　quakerish　elegance；　about　the　rogue
  that　hit　my　fancy　on　the　spot。　　Our　first　interview　was　in
  Monastier　market…place。　　To　prove　her　good　temper；　one　child　after
  another　was　set　upon　her　back　to　ride；　and　one　after　another　went
  head　over　heels　into　the　air；　until　a　want　of　confidence　began　to
  reign　in　youthful　bosoms；　and　the　experiment　was　discontinued　from
  a　dearth　of　subjects。　　I　was　already　backed　by　a　deputation　of　my
  friends；　but　as　if　this　were　not　enough；　all　the　buyers　and　sellers
  came　round　and　helped　me　in　the　bargain；　and　the　ass　and　I　and
  Father　Adam　were　the　centre　of　a　hubbub　for　near　half　an　hour。　　At
  length　she　passed　into　my　service　for　the　consideration　of　sixty…
  five　francs　and　a　glass　of　brandy。　　The　sack　had　already　cost
  eighty　francs　and　two　glasses　of　beer；　so　that　Modestine；　as　I
  instantly　baptized　her；　was　upon　all　accounts　the　cheaper　article。
  Indeed；　that　was　as　it　should　be；　for　she　was　only　an　appurtenance
  of　my　mattress；　or　self…acting　bedstead　on　four　castors。
  I　had　a　last　interview　with　Father　Adam　in　a　billiard…room　at　the
  witching　hour　of　dawn；　when　I　administered　the　brandy。　　He
  professed　himself　greatly　touched　by　the　separation；　and　declared
  he　had　often　bought　white　bread　for　the　donkey　when　he　had　been
  content　with　black　bread　for　himself；　but　this；　according　to　the
  best　authorities；　must　have　been　a　flight　of　fancy。　　He　had　a　name
  in　the　village　for　brutally　misusing　the　ass；　yet　it　is　certain
  that　he　shed　a　tear；　and　the　tear　made　a　clean　mark　down　one　cheek。
  By　the　advice　of　a　fallacious　local　saddler；　a　leather　pad　was　made
  for　me　with　rings　to　fasten　on　my　bundle；　and　I　thoughtfully
  completed　my　kit　and　arranged　my　toilette。　　By　way　of　armoury　and
  utensils；　I　took　a　revolver；　a　little　spirit…lamp　and　pan；　a
  lantern　and　some　halfpenny　candles；　a　jack…knife　and　a　large
  leather　flask。　　The　main　cargo　consisted　of　two　entire　changes　of
  warm　clothing　…　besides　my　travelling　wear　of　country　velveteen；
  pilot…coat；　and　knitted　spencer　…　some　books；　and　my　railway…rug；
  which；　being　also　in　the　form　of　a　bag；　made　me　a　double　castle　for
  cold　nights。　　The　permanent　larder　was　represented　by　cakes　of
  chocolate　and　tins　of　Bologna　sausage。　　All　this；　except　what　I
  carried　about　my　person；　was　easily　stowed　into　the　sheepskin　bag；
  and　by　good　fortune　I　threw　in　my　empty　knapsack；　rather　for
  convenience　of　carriage　than　from　any　thought　that　I　should　want　it
  on　my　journey。　　For　more　immediate　needs　I　took　a　leg　of　cold
  mutton；　a　bottle　of　Beaujolais；　an　empty　bottle　to　carry　milk；　an
  eg