de of the hill, which lies over
against it to the south-east. The sun, now descending, began to shine
out. The pass down which I was now going was yet wilder than the one up
which I had lately come. Close on my right was the steep hill's side out
of which the road or path had been cut, which was here and there overhung
by crags of wondrous forms; on my left was a very deep glen, beyond which
was a black, precipitous, rocky wall, from a chasm near the top of which
tumbled with a rushing sound a slender brook, seemingly the commencement
of a mountain stream, which hurried into a valley far below towards the
west. When nearly at the bottom of the descent I stood still to look
around me. Grand and wild was the scenery. On my left were noble green
hills, the tops of which were beautifully gilded by the rays of the
setting sun. On my right a black, gloomy, narrow valley or glen showed
itself; two enormous craggy hills of immense altitude, one to the west
and the other to the east of the entrance; that to the east terminating
in a peak. The background to the north was a wall of rocks forming a
semicircle, something like a bent bow with the head downward; behind this
bow, just in the middle, rose the black loaf of Arran. A torrent tumbled
from the lower part of the semicircle, and after running for some
distance to the south turned to the west, the way I was going.

Observing a house a little way within the gloomy vale I went towards it,
in the hope of finding somebody in it who could give me information
respecting this wild locality. As I drew near the door two tall men came
forth, one about sixty, and the other about half that age. The elder had
a sharp, keen look; the younger a lumpy and a stupid one. They were
dressed like farmers. On my saluting them in English the elder returned
my salutation in that tongue, but in rather a gruff tone. The younger
turned away his head and said nothing.

"What is the name of this house?" said I, pointing to the building.

"The name of it," said the old man, "is Ty Mawr."

"Do you live in it?" said I.

"Yes, I live in it."

"What waterfall is that?" said I, pointing to the torrent tumbling down
the crag at the farther end of the gloomy vale.

"The fountain of the Royal Dyfi."

"Why do you call the Dyfy royal?" said I.

"Because it is the king of the rivers in these parts."

"Does the fountain come out of a rock?"

"It does not; it comes out of a lake, a llyn."

"