le, and a duck-pond.

In our enumeration, however, of fish and fowl we had almost forgotten "a
portent of the wave," which was a nine hours' wonder with us. A stray
seal, revisiting the familiar shore, and unaware of the change which had
transformed his quiet haunts was encountered by one of our party as he
cruised round Borth Head in his fishing-boat. We are glad to record that
the _rencontre_ ended without bloodshed. It was a sportsman and a
naturalist who had crossed the poor seal's path; but he remembered that
he, too, was a stranger in the land, and he could not lift rifle against
the

Sea-worn face, sad as mortality,

which leaned from the ledge of rock to look at him. So the monster
passed on his way unharmed.

We have detailed at length enough of the diversions and interests which
lay close at our own doors. But these delights pale by the side of those
red-letter days when we went far afield to keep a holiday among the
mountains. We shall not see the like of those days again! On such
mornings, the hotel steps and the esplanade would be dotted with anxious
groups waiting for breakfast, and observing the omens of the sky. If
these are favourable, a little before eight a broad stream sets towards
the station, and fills the sunny platform with a vivacious crowd.
Masters, who organise the several expeditions, use the interval to count
heads and sort their parties. The benevolent Cambrian railway supplies
spare carriages and return tickets at single fares. Presently the train
is sighted sliding down the winding incline from Langfihangel; it picks
us all up--near two hundred souls, it may be--moves out into the open
plain, still glittering with the morning dew, and reaching Glandovey,
drops half its passengers at the junction to explore the northward coast,
while it carries the rest to Machynlleth and Cemmes Road. Here and there
it sows little companies of explorers at some mountain's foot or river's
mouth. One band assails Cader Idris from the rich vale of Dolgelley, and
meets on the summit another which has scaled it from Tal-y-llyn. Each
party is convinced that their ascent was the more creditable in point of
speed, and that they enjoyed the more magnificent views. One, however,
claims an advantage which can be more easily gauged; they have haled a
hamper of luncheon with them to the peak, with infinite pains. During
the descent this hamper (but that was after luncheon) slipped from its
carrier