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Moreover, if the road lay on a height, along a ridge, the mule,

according to the custom of these animals, would obstinately keep

on the outside, and place his feet literally on the very edge of

the precipice. "Thou also," said he in his heart to the beast,

"thou also hath this cursed desire to seek danger, when there are

so many other paths!" He tightened the rein on the other side,

but in vain; so that, although dying of vexation and fear, he

suffered himself, as was his custom, to be led by the will of

another. The bravoes no longer caused him much uneasiness now

that he felt confidence in their master. "But," thought he,

nevertheless, "if the news of this great conversion spreads,

while we are yet here, who knows how these people may take it?

Who knows what might be the result? Perhaps they might take it in

their heads to think I had come as a missionary! and then (heaven

preserve me!) they would make me suffer martyrdom!" But we have

said enough of the terrors of Don Abbondio.