ls, all red-haired, but
tolerably good-looking. They had neither shoes nor stockings. "What is
the name of this house?" said I to the eldest, a boy about seven years
old. He looked at me, but made no answer. I repeated my question; still
there was no answer, but methought I heard a humph of triumph from the
hill. "Don't crow quite yet, old chap," thought I to myself, and putting
my hand into my pocket, I took out a penny, and offering it to the child
said: "Now, small man, Peth yw y enw y lle hwn?" Instantly the boy's
face became intelligent, and putting out a fat little hand, he took the
ceiniog and said in an audible whisper, "Waen y Bwlch." "I am all
right," said I to myself; "that is one of the names of the places which
the old ostler said I must go through." Then addressing myself to the
child I said: "Where's your father and mother?"

"Out on the hill," whispered the child.

"What's your father?"

"A shepherd."

"Good," said I. "Now can you tell me the way to the bridge of the evil
man?" But the features became blank, the finger was put to the mouth,
and the head was hung down. That question was evidently beyond the
child's capacity. "Thank you!" said I, and turning round I regained the
path on the top of the bank. The fellow and his donkey were still there.
"I had no difficulty," said I, "in obtaining information; the place's
name is Waen y Bwlch. But oes genoch dim Cumraeg--you have no Welsh."
Thereupon I proceeded along the path in the direction of the east.
Forthwith the fellow said something to his animal, and both came
following fast behind. I quickened my pace, but the fellow and his beast
were close in my rear. Presently I came to a place where another path
branched off to the south. I stopped, looked at it, and then went on,
but scarcely had done so when I heard another exulting "humph" behind.
"I am going wrong," said I to myself; "that other path is the way to the
Devil's Bridge, and the scamp knows it or he would not have grunted."
Forthwith I faced round, and brushing past the fellow without a word
turned into the other path and hurried along it. By a side glance which
I cast I could see him staring after me; presently, however, he uttered a
sound very much like a Welsh curse, and, kicking his beast, proceeded on
his way, and I saw no more of him. In a little time I came to a slough
which crossed the path. I did not like the look of it at all, and to
avoid it ventured upon some