wild wales-第84章

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and　I　forthwith　began　to　descend　the　path；　the　fellow　uttering　a　
contemptuous　〃humph〃　behind　me；　as　much　as　to　say；　〃Much　you'll　
make　out　down　there。〃　　I　soon　reached　the　bottom　and　advanced　
towards　the　house。　　The　dogs　had　all　along　been　barking　violently；　
as　I　drew　near　to　them；　however；　they　ceased；　and　two　of　the　
largest　came　forward　wagging　their　tails。　　〃The　dogs　were　not　
barking　at　me；〃　said　I；　〃but　at　that　vagabond　above。〃　　I　went　up　to　
the　children；　they　were　four　in　number；　two　boys　and　two　girls；　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　green　mossy…looking　ground　to　the　left；　and　had　
scarcely　done　so　when　I　found　myself　immersed　to　the　knees　in　a　
bog。　　I；　however；　pushed　forward；　and　with　some　difficulty　got　to　
the　path　on　the　other　side　of　the　slough。　　I　followed　the　path；　and　
in　about　half…an…hour　saw　what　appeared　to　be　houses　at　a　distance。　　
〃God　grant　that　I　maybe　drawing　near　some　inhabited　place！〃　said　I。　　
The　path　now　grew　very　miry；　and　there　were　pools　of　water　on　
either　side。　　I　moved　along　slowly。　　At　length　I　came　to　a　place　
where　some　men　were　busy　in　erecting　a　kind　of　building。　　I　went　up　
to　the　nearest　and　asked　him　the　name　of　the　place。　　He　had　a　
crowbar　in　his　hand；　was　half　naked；　had　a　wry　mouth　and　only　one　
eye。　　He　made　me　no　answer；　but　mowed　and　gibbered　at　me。

〃For　God's　sake；〃　said　I；　〃don't　do　so；　but　tell　me　where　I　am！〃　　
He　still　uttered　no　word；　but　mowed　and　gibbered　yet　more　
frightfully　than　before。　　As　I　stood　staring　at　him　another　man　
came　to　me　and　said　in　broken　English：　　〃It　is　of　no　use　speaking　
to　him；　sir；　he　is　deaf　and　dumb。〃

〃I　am　glad　he　is　no　worse；〃　said　I；　〃for　I　really　thought　he　was　
possessed　with　the　evil　one。　　My　good　person；　can　you　tell　me　the　
name　of　this　place？〃

〃Esgyrn　Hirion；　sir；〃　said　he。

〃Esgyrn　Hirion；〃　said　I　to　myself；　〃Esgyrn　means　'bones；'　and　
Hirion　means　'long。'　　I　am　doubtless　at　the　place　which　the　old　
ostler　called　Long　Bones。　　I　shouldn't　wonder　if　I　get　to　the　
Devil's　Bridge　to…night　after　all。〃　　I　then　asked　the　man　if　he　
could　tell　me　the　way　to　the　bridge　of　the　evil　man；　but　he　shook　
his　head　and　said　that　he　had　never　heard　of　such　a　place；　adding；　
however；　that　he　would　go　with　me　to　one　of　the　overseers；　who　
could　perhaps　direct　me。　　He　then　proceeded　towards　a　row　of　
buildings；　which　were；　in　fact；　those　objects　which　I　had　guessed　
to　be　houses　in　the　distance。　　He　led　me　to　a　corner　house；　at　the　
door　of　which　stood　a　middle…aged　man；　dressed　in　a　grey　coat；　and　
saying　to　me；　〃This　person　is　an　overseer；〃　returned　to　his　labour。　　
I　went　up　to　the　man；　and；　saluting　him　in　English；　asked　whether　
he　could　direct　me　to　the　Devil's　Bridge；　or　rather　to　Pont　Erwyd。

〃It　would　be　of　no　use　directing　you；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃for　with　all　
the　directions　in　the　world　it　would　be　impossible　for　you　to　find　
the　way。　　You　would　not　have　left　these　premises　five　minutes　
before　you　would　be　in　a　maze　without　knowing　which　way　to　turn。　　
Where　do　you　come　from？〃

〃From　Machynlleth；〃　I　replied。

〃From　Machynlleth！〃　said　he。　　〃Well；　I　only　wonder　you　ever　got　
here；　but　it　would　be　madness　to　go　farther　alone。〃

〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃can　I　obtain　a　guide？〃

〃I　really　don't　know；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　afraid　all　the　men　are　
engaged。〃

As　we　were　speaking　a　young　man　made　his　appearance　at　the　door　
from　the　interior　of　the　house。　　He　was　dressed　in　a　brown　short　
coat；　had　a　glazed　hat　on　his　head；　and　had　a　pale　but　very　
intelligent　countenance。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　said　he　to　the　other　man。

〃This　gentleman；〃　replied　the　latter；　〃is　going　to　Pont　Erwyd；　and　
wants　a　guide。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃we　must　find　him　one。　　It　will　never　
do　to　let　him　go　by　himself。〃

〃If　you　can　find　me　a　guide；〃　said　I；　〃I　shall　be　happy　to　pay　him　
for　his　trouble。〃

〃Oh；　you　can　do　as　you　please　about　that；〃　said　the　young　man；　
〃but；　pay　or　not；　we　would　never　suffer　you　to　leave　this　place　
without　a　guide；　and　as　much　for　our　own　sake　as　yours；　for　the　
directors　of　the　Company　would　never　forgive　us　if　they　heard　we　
had　suffered　a　gentleman　to　leave　these　premises　without　a　guide；　
more　especially　if　he　were　lost；　as　it　is　a　hundred　to　one　you　
would　be　if　you　went　by　yourself。〃

〃Pray；〃　said　I；　〃what　Company　is　this；　the　directors　of　which　are　
so　solicitous　about　the　safety　of　strangers？〃

〃The　Potosi　Mining　Company；〃　said　he；　〃the　richest　in　all　Wales。　　
But　pray　walk　in　and　sit　down；　for　you　must　be　tired。〃



CHAPTER　LXXXI



The　Mining　Compting　Room　…　Native　of　Aberystwyth　…　Story　of　a　
Bloodhound　…　The　Young　Girls　…　The　Miner's　Tale　…　Gwen　Frwd　…　The　
Terfyn。


I　FOLLOWED　the　young　man　with　the　glazed　hat　into　a　room；　the　other　
man　following　behind　me。　　He　of　the　glazed　hat　made　me　sit　down　
before　a　turf　fire；　apologising　for　its　smoking　very　much。　　The　
room　seemed　half　compting…room；　half　apartment。　　There　was　a　wooden　
desk　with　a　ledger　upon　it　by　the　window；　which　looked　to　the　west；　
and　a　camp　bedstead　extended　from　the　southern　wall　nearly　up　to　
the　desk。　　After　I　had　sat　for　about　a　minute；　the　young　man　asked　
me　if　I　would　take　any　refreshment。　　I　thanked　him　for　his　kind　
offer；　which　I　declined；　saying；　however；　that　if　he　would　obtain　
me　a　guide　I　should　feel　much　obliged。　　He　turned　to　the　other　man　
and　told　him　to　go　and　inquire　whether　there　was　any　one　who　would　
be　willing　to　go。　　The　other　nodded；　and　forthwith　went　out。

〃You　think；　then；〃　said　I；　〃that　I　could　not　find　the　way　by　
myself？〃

〃I　am　sure　of　it；〃　said　he；　〃for　even　the　people　best　acquainted　
with　the　country　frequently　lose　their　way。　　But　I　must　tell　you；　
that　if　we　do　find　you　a　guide；　it　will　probably　be　one　who　has　no　
English。〃

〃Never　mind；〃　said　I；　〃I　have　enough　Welsh　to　hold　a　common　
discourse。〃

A　fine　girl　about　fourteen　now　came　in；　and　began　bustling　about。


〃Who　is　this　young　lady？〃　said　I。

〃The　daughter　of　a　captain　of　a　neighbouring　mine；〃　said　he；　〃she　
frequently　comes　here　with　messages；　and　is　always　ready　to　do　a　
turn　about　the　house；　for　she　is　very　handy。〃

〃Has　she　any　English？〃　said　I。

〃Not　a　word；〃　he　replied。　　〃The　young　people　of　these　hills　have　no　
English；　except　they　go　abroad　to　learn　it。〃

〃What　hills　are　these？〃　said　I。

〃Part　of　the　Plynlimmon　range；〃　said　he。

〃Dear　me；〃　said　I；　〃am　I　near　Plynlimmon？〃

〃Not　very　far　from　it；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃and　you　will　be　nearer　
when　you　reach　Pont　Erwyd。〃

〃Are　you　a　native　of　these　parts？〃　said　I。

〃I　am　not；〃　he　replied；　〃I　am　a　native　of　Aberystwyth；　a　place　on　
the　sea…coast　about　a　dozen　miles　from　here。〃

〃This　seems　to　be　a　cold；　bleak　spot；〃　said　I；　〃is　it　healthy？〃

〃I　have　reason　to　say　so；〃　said　he；　〃for　I　came　here　from　
Aberystwyth　about　four　months　ago　very　unwell；　and　am　now　perfectly　
recovered。　　I　do　not　believe　there　is　a　healthier　spot　in　all　
Wales。〃

We　had　some　further　discourse。　　I　mentioned　to　him　the　adventure　
which　I　had　on　the　hill　with　the　fellow　with　the　donkey。　　The　young　
man　said　that　he　had　no　doubt　that　he　was　some　prowling　thief。

〃The　dogs　of　the　shepherd's　house；〃　said　I；　〃didn't　seem　to　like　
him；　and　dogs　generally　know　an　evil　customer。　　A　long　time　ago　I　
chanced　to　be　in　a　posada；　or　inn；　at　Valladolid　in　Spain。　　One　hot　
summer's　afternoon　I　was　seated　in　a　corridor　which　ran　round　a　
large　open　court　in　the　middle　of　the　inn；　a　fine　yellow；　three…
parts…grown　bloodhound　was　lying　on　the　ground　beside　me　with　whom　
I　had　been　playing；　a　little　time　before。　　I　was　just　about　to　fall　
asleep；　when　I　heard　a　'hem'　at　the　outward　door　of　the　posada；　
which　was　a　long　way　below　at　the　end　of　a　passage　which　
communicated　with　the　court。　　Instantly　the　hound　started　upon　his　
legs；　and　with　a　loud　yell；　and　with　eyes　flashing　fire；　ran　nearly　
round　the　corridor；　down　a　flight　of　steps；　and　through　the　passage　
to　the　gate。　　There　was　then　a　dreadful　noise；　in　which　the　cries　
of　a　human　being　and　the　yells　of　the　hound　were　blended。　　I　
forthwith　started　up　and　ran　down；　followed　by　several　other　
guests；　who　came　rushing　out　of　their　chambers　round　the　corridor。　　
At　the　gate　we　saw　a　man　on　the　ground　and　the　hound　trying　to　
strangle　him。　　It　was　with　the　greatest　difficulty；　and　chiefly　
through　the　intervention　of　the　master　of　the　dog；　who　happened　to　
be　present；　that　the　animal　could　be　made　to　quit　his　hold。　　The　
assailed　person　was　a　very　powerful　man；　but　had　an　evil　
countenance；　was　badly　dressed；　and　had　neither　hat；　shoes　nor　
stockings。　　We　raised　him　up　and　gave　him　wine；　which　he　drank　
greedily；　and　presently；　without　saying　a　word；　disappeared。　　The　
guests　s