at the western extremity of the town and
proceeded briskly along. The scenery was romantically beautiful; on my
left was the little brook, the waters of which run through the town;
beyond it a lofty hill; on my right was a hill covered with wood from the
top to the bottom. I enjoyed the scene, and should have enjoyed it more
had there been a little sunshine to gild it.

I passed through a small village, the name of which I think was Cynmen,
and presently overtook a man and boy. The man saluted me in English, and
I entered into conversation with him in that language. He told me that
he came from Llan Gedwin, and was going to a place called Gwern
something, in order to fetch home some sheep. After a time he asked me
where I was going.

"I am going to see the Pistyll Rhyadr," said I

We had then just come to the top of a rising ground.

"Yonder's the Pistyll!" said he, pointing to the west.

I looked in the direction of his finger, and saw something at a great
distance, which looked like a strip of grey linen hanging over a crag.

"That is the waterfall," he continued, "which so many of the Saxons come
to see. And now I must bid you good-bye, master; for my way to the Gwern
is on the right."

Then followed by the boy he turned aside into a wild road at the corner
of a savage, precipitous rock.

CHAPTER LXX

Mountain Scenery--The Rhyadr--Wonderful Feat.

After walking about a mile with the cataract always in sight, I emerged
from the glen into an oblong valley extending from south to north, having
lofty hills on all sides, especially on the west, from which direction
the cataract comes. I advanced across the vale till within a furlong of
this object, when I was stopped by a deep hollow or nether vale into
which the waters of the cataract tumble. On the side of this hollow I
sat down, and gazed down before me and on either side. The water comes
spouting over a crag of perhaps two hundred feet in altitude between two
hills, one south-east and the other nearly north. The southern hill is
wooded from the top, nearly down to where the cataract bursts forth; and
so, but not so thickly, is the northern hill, which bears a singular
resemblance to a hog's back. Groves of pine are on the lower parts of
both; in front of a grove low down on the northern hill is a small white
house of a picturesque appearance. The water of the cataract, after
reaching the bottom of the precipice, rushes in a narrow brook