ey--The Lad and Dog--Old Bala--The Pass--Extensive
View--The Two Men--The Tap Nyth--The Meeting of the Waters--The Wild
Valley--Dinas Mawddwy.

The Monday morning was gloomy and misty, but it did not rain, a
circumstance which gave me no little pleasure, as I intended to continue
my journey without delay. After breakfast I bade farewell to my kind
host, and also to the freckled maid, and departed, my satchel o'er my
shoulder and my umbrella in my hand.

I had consulted the landlord on the previous day as to where I had best
make my next halt, and had been advised by him to stop at Mallwyd. He
said that if I felt tired I could put up at Dinas Mawddwy, about two
miles on this side of Mallwyd, but that if I were not he would advise me
to go on, as I should find very poor accommodation at Dinas. On my
inquiring as to the nature of the road, he told me that the first part of
it was tolerably good, lying along the eastern side of the lake, but that
the greater part of it was very rough, over hills and mountains,
belonging to the great chain of Arran, which constituted upon the whole
the wildest part of all Wales.

Passing by the northern end of the lake I turned to the south, and
proceeded along a road a little way above the side of the lake. The day
had now to a certain extent cleared up, and the lake was occasionally
gilded by beams of bright sunshine. After walking a little way I
overtook a lad dressed in a white greatcoat and attended by a tolerably
large black dog. I addressed him in English, but finding that he did not
understand me I began to talk to him in Welsh.

"That's a fine dog," said I.

_Lad_.--Very fine, sir, and a good dog; though young he has been known to
kill rats.

_Myself_.--What is his name?

_Lad_.--His name is Toby, sir.

_Myself_.--And what is your name?

_Lad_.--John Jones, sir.

_Myself_.--And what is your father's?

_Lad_.--Waladr Jones, sir.

_Myself_.--Is Waladr the same as Cadwaladr?

_Lad_.--In truth, sir, it is.

_Myself_.--That is a fine name.

_Lad_.--It is, sir; I have heard my father say that it was the name of a
king.

_Myself_.--What is your father?

_Lad_.--A farmer, sir.

_Myself_.--Does he farm his own land?

_Lad_.--He does not, sir; he is tenant to Mr Price of Hiwlas.

_Myself_.--Do you live far from Bala?

_Lad_.--Not very far, sir.

_Myself_.--Are you going home now?

_Lad_.--I am not, sir; our home is on the other side of Bala. I am going