te of russet
coloured hills, with here and there a black, craggy summit. No signs of
life or cultivation were to be discovered, and the eye might search in
vain for a grove or even a single tree. The scene would have been
cheerless in the extreme had not a bright sun lighted up the landscape.

"This does not seem to be a country of much society," said I to my guide.

"It is not, sir. The nearest house is the inn we came from, which is now
three miles behind us. Straight before you there is not one for at least
ten, and on either side it is an anialwch to a vast distance. Plunlummon
is not a sociable country, sir; nothing to be found in it, but here and
there a few sheep or a shepherd."

"Now," said I, descending from the carn, "we will proceed to the sources
of the rivers."

"The ffynnon of the Rheidol is not far off," said the guide; "it is just
below the hill."

We descended the western side of the hill for some way; at length, coming
to a very craggy and precipitous place, my guide stopped, and pointing
with his finger into the valley below, said:--

"There, sir, if you look down you can see the source of the Rheidol."

I looked down, and saw far below what appeared to be part of a small
sheet of water.

"And that is the source of the Rheidol?" said I.

"Yes, sir," said my guide; "that is the ffynnon of the Rheidol."

"Well," said I; "is there no getting to it?"

"Oh yes! but the path, sir, as you see, is rather steep and dangerous."

"Never mind," said I. "Let us try it."

"Isn't seeing the fountain sufficient for you, sir?"

"By no means," said I. "It is not only necessary for me to see the
sources of the rivers, but to drink of them, in order that in after times
I may be able to harangue about them with a tone of confidence and
authority."

"Then follow me, sir; but please to take care, for this path is more fit
for sheep or shepherds than gentlefolk."

And a truly bad path I found it; so bad indeed that before I had
descended twenty yards I almost repented having ventured. I had a
capital guide, however, who went before and told me where to plant my
steps. There was one particularly bad part, being little better than a
sheer precipice; but even here I got down in safety with the assistance
of my guide, and a minute afterwards found myself at the source of the
Rheidol.

The source of the Rheidol is a small beautiful lake, about a quarter of a
mile in length. It is overhung on the eas