is a district bleak and bracing
on the summits, warm and sheltered in the valleys, and as yet quite
unspoiled by the crowd, as too is the charming town which is the centre
of this country.

Aberystwyth retains the quiet charm of an old-world "watering-place,"
and glories in its wonderful climate and healing sea breezes that blow
in across Cardigan Bay, which have won for it its reputation in winter
and summer for being a British Biarritz.

[Illustration: _Devil's Bridge, Aberystwyth_]

[Illustration]

THE WOMEN SOLDIERS OF FISHGUARD

They tell a story down in Pembrokeshire of how the Welsh country-women
once defeated an invading army. It was in the days of the Napoleonic
wars when, on a winter's afternoon, four hostile ships appeared
unexpectedly off Fishguard Bay. On board were fourteen hundred soldiers
intent upon an invasion of Britain.

The wild country of the far west of Wales was in those days even more
remote than it is now. In the neighbourhood were but three hundred
militiamen, and the invaders had an easy task in landing at Llanwnda,
about two miles away from modern Fishguard, in a charming sheltered
inlet known as Careg Gwastad Bay.

But the gallant Welsh determined to drive out the invader. They were
furious, and, armed with scythes and other farm implements, they quickly
gathered together. For such firearms as they had there was little
ammunition, so they stripped the roof of beautiful little St. David's
Cathedral of its lead in order to make bullets.

And the women of the country followed their men. Clad in their red
cloaks and high black steeple-crowned hats, in the distance they had
all the appearance of regular soldiers, and the leader of the defending
forces was quick to realise this fact.

He marshalled them into something like military formation and marched
them about in various places where they could be seen by the invading
troops. Up and down hill the willing Welsh women trudged until darkness
fell and they were tired out.

Meanwhile there was consternation in the invaders' camp. The commander
knew that scarlet was the colour of our soldiers' uniform, and he could
only conclude that overwhelming reinforcements were arriving from the
interior. Believing his cause hopeless, he sent in a letter under a flag
of truce to the British commander, offering to surrender, and within
three days of landing the whole invading force was made prisoner.

There is an amazing sequel to this in