wild wales-第85章

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greedily；　and　presently；　without　saying　a　word；　disappeared。　　The　
guests　said　they　had　no　doubt　that　he　was　a　murderer　flying　from　
justice；　and　that　the　dog　by　his　instinct；　even　at　a　distance；　knew　
him　to　be　such。　　The　master　said　that　it　was　the　first　time　that　
the　dog　had　ever　attacked　any　one　or　shown　the　slightest　symptom　of　
ferocity。　　Not　the　least　singular　part　of　the　matter　was；　that　the　
dog　did　not　belong　to　the　house；　but　to　one　of　the　guests　from　a　
distant　village；　the　creature　therefore　could　not　consider　itself　
the　house's　guardian。〃

I　had　scarcely　finished　my　tale　when　the　other　man　came　in　and　said　
that　he　had　found　a　guide；　a　young　man　from　Pont　Erwyd；　who　would　
be　glad　of　such　an　opportunity　to　go　and　see　his　parents；　that　he　
was　then　dressing　himself；　and　would　shortly　make　his　appearance。　　
In　about　twenty　minutes　he　did　so。　　He　was　a　stout　young　fellow　
with　a　coarse　blue　coat；　and　coarse　white　felt　hat；　he　held　a　stick　
in　his　hand。　　The　kind　young　book…keeper　now　advised　us　to　set　out　
without　delay；　as　the　day　was　drawing　to　a　close　and　the　way　was　
long。　　I　shook　him　by　the　hand；　told　him　that　I　should　never　forget　
his　civility；　and　departed　with　the　guide。

The　fine　young　girl；　whom　I　have　already　mentioned；　and　another　
about　two　years　younger；　departed　with　us。　　They　were　dressed　in　
the　graceful　female　attire　of　old　Wales。

We　bore　to　the　south　down　a　descent；　and　came　to　some　moory；　quaggy　
ground　intersected　with　water…courses。　　The　agility　of　the　young　
girls　surprised　me；　they　sprang　over　the　water…courses；　some　of　
which　were　at　least　four　feet　wide；　with　the　ease　and　alacrity　of　
lawns。　　After　a　short　time　we　came　to　a　road；　which；　however；　we　
did　not　long　reap　the　benefit　of；　as　it　only　led　to　a　mine。　　Seeing　
a　house　on　the　top　of　a　hill；　I　asked　my　guide　whose　it　was。

〃Ty　powdr；〃　said　he；　〃a　powder　house；〃　by　which　I　supposed　he　meant　
a　magazine　of　powder　used　for　blasting　in　the　mines。　　He　had　not　a　
word　of　English。　。　If　the　young　girls　were　nimble　with　their　feet；　
they　were　not　less　so　with　their　tongues；　as　they　kept　up　an　
incessant　gabble　with　each　other　and　with　the　guide。　　I　understood　
little　of　what　they　said；　their　volubility　preventing　me　from　
catching　more　than　a　few　words。　　After　we　had　gone　about　two　miles　
and　a　half；　they　darted　away　with　surprising　swiftness　down　a　hill　
towards　a　distant　house；　where；　as　I　learned　from　my　guide；　the　
father　of　the　eldest　lived。　　We　ascended　a　hill；　passed　between　two　
craggy　elevations；　and　then　wended　to　the　south…east　over　a　
strange；　miry　place；　in　which　I　thought　any　one　at　night　not　
acquainted　with　every　inch　of　the　way　would　run　imminent　risk　of　
perishing。　　I　entered　into　conversation　with　my　guide。　　After　a　
little　time　he　asked　me　if　I　was　a　Welshman。　　I　told　him　no。

〃You　could　teach　many　a　Welshman；〃　said　he。

〃Why　do　you　think　so？〃　said　I。

〃Because　many　of　your　words　are　quite　above　my　comprehension；〃　said　
he。

〃No　great　compliment；〃　thought　I　to　myself；　but　putting　a　good　face　
upon　the　matter　I　told　him　that　I　knew　a　great　many　old　Welsh　
words。

〃Is　Potosi　an　old　Welsh　word？〃　said　he。

〃No；〃　said　I；　〃it　is　the　name　of　a　mine　in　the　Deheubarth　of　
America。〃

〃Is　it　a　lead　mine？〃

〃No！〃　said　I；　〃it　is　a　silver　mine。〃

〃Then　why　do　they　call　our　mine；　which　is　a　lead　mine；　by　the　name　
of　a　silver　mine？〃

〃Because　they　wish　to　give　people　to　understand；〃　said　I；　〃that　it　
is　very　rich　…　as　rich　in　lead　as　Potosi　in　silver。　　Potosi　is；　or　
was；　the　richest　silver　mine　in　the　world；　and　from　it　has　come　at　
least　one　half　of　the　silver　which　we　use　in　the　shape　of　money　and　
other　things。〃

〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　frequently　asked；　but　could　never　learn　
before　why　our　mine　was　called　Potosi。〃

〃You　did　not　ask　at　the　right　quarter；〃　said　I；　〃the　young　man　with　
the　glazed　hat　could　have　told　you　as　well　as　I。〃　　I　inquired　why　
the　place　where　the　mine　was　bore　the　name　of　Esgyrn　Hirion　or　Long　
Bones。　　He　told　me　that　he　did　not　know；　but　believed　that　the　
bones　of　a　cawr　or　giant　had　been　found　there　in　ancient　times。　　I　
asked　him　if　the　mine　was　deep。

〃Very　deep；〃　he　replied。

〃Do　you　like　the　life　of　a　miner？〃　said　I。

〃Very　much；〃　said　he；　〃and　should　like　it　more；　but　for　the　noises　
of　the　hill。〃

〃Do　you　mean　the　powder　blasts？〃　said　I。

〃Oh　no！〃　said　he；　〃I　care　nothing　for　them；　I　mean　the　noises　made　
by　the　spirits　of　the　hill　in　the　mine。　　Sometimes　they　make　such　
noises　as　frighten　the　poor　fellow　who　works　underground　out　of　his　
senses。　　Once　on　a　time　I　was　working　by　myself　very　deep　
underground；　in　a　little　chamber　to　which　a　very　deep　shaft　led。　　I　
had　just　taken　up　my　light　to　survey　my　work；　when　all　of　a　sudden　
I　heard　a　dreadful　rushing　noise；　as　if　an　immense　quantity　of　
earth　had　come　tumbling　down。　　'Oh　God！'　said　I；　and　fell　
backwards；　letting　the　light　fall；　which　instantly　went　out。　　I　
thought　the　whole　shaft　had　given　way；　and　that　I　was　buried　alive。　　
I　lay　for　several　hours　half　stupefied；　thinking　now　and　then　what　
a　dreadful　thing　it　was　to　be　buried　alive。　　At　length　I　thought　I　
would　get　up；　go　to　the　mouth　of　the　shaft；　feel　the　mould；　with　
which　it　was　choked　up；　and　then　come　back；　lie　down；　and　die。　　So　
I　got　up　and　tottered　to　the　mouth　of　the　shaft；　put　out　my　hand　
and　felt　…　nothing；　all　was　clear。　　I　went　forward；　and　presently　
felt　the　ladder。　　Nothing　had　fallen；　all　was　just　the　same　as　when　
I　came　down。　　I　was　dreadfully　afraid　that　I　should　never　be　able　
to　get　up　in　the　dark　without　breaking　my　neck；　however；　I　tried；　
and　at　last；　with　a　great　deal　of　toil　and　danger；　got　to　a　place　
where　other　men　were　working。　　The　noise　was　caused　by　the　spirits　
of　the　hill　in　the　hope　of　driving　the　miner　out　of　his　senses。　　
They　very　nearly　succeeded。　　I　shall　never　forget　how　I　felt　when　I　
thought　I　was　buried　alive。　　If　it　were　not　for　those　noises　in　the　
hill；　the　life　of　a　miner　would　be　quite　heaven　below。〃

We　came　to　a　cottage　standing　under　a　hillock；　down　the　side　of　
which　tumbled　a　streamlet　close　by　the　northern　side　of　the　
building。　　The　door　was　open；　and　inside　were　two　or　three　females　
and　some　children。　　〃Have　you　any　enwyn？〃　said　the　lad；　peeping　in。

〃Oh　yes！〃　said　a　voice　…　〃digon！　digon！〃　　Presently　a　buxom；　
laughing　girl　brought　out　two　dishes　of　buttermilk；　one　of　which　
she　handed　to　me　and　the　other　to　the　guide。　　I　asked　her　the　name　
of　the　place。

〃Gwen　Frwd　…　the　'Fair　Rivulet；'〃　said　she。

〃Who　lives　here？〃

〃A　shepherd。〃

〃Have　you　any　English？〃

〃Nagos！〃　said　she；　bursting　into　a　loud　laugh。　　〃What　should　we　do　
with　English　here？〃　After　we　had　drunk　the　buttermilk　I　offered　the　
girl　some　money；　but　she　drew　back　her　hand　angrily；　and　said：　　〃We　
don't　take　money　from　tired　strangers　for　two　drops　of　buttermilk；　
there's　plenty　within；　and　there　are　a　thousand　ewes　on　the　hill。　　
Farvel！〃

〃Dear　me！〃　thought　I　to　myself　as　I　walked　away；　〃that　I　should　
once　in　my　days　have　found　shepherd　life　something　as　poets　have　
represented　it！〃

I　saw　a　mighty　mountain　at　a　considerable　distance　on　the　right；　
the　same　I　believe　which　I　had　noted　some　hours　before。　　I　inquired　
of　my　guide　whether　it　was　Plynlimmon。

〃Oh　no！〃　said　he；　〃that　is　Gaverse；　Pumlimmon　is　to　the　left。〃

〃Plynlimmon　is　a　famed　hill；〃　said　I；　〃I　suppose　it　is　very　high。〃

〃Yes！〃　said　he；　〃it　is　high；　but　it　is　not　famed　because　it　is　
high；　but　because　the　three　grand　rivers　of　the　world　issue　from　
its　breast；　the　Hafren；　the　Rheidol；　and　the　Gwy。〃

Night　was　now　coming　rapidly　on；　attended　with　a　drizzling　rain。　　I　
inquired　if　we　were　far　from　Pont　Erwyd。　　〃About　a　mile；〃　said　my　
guide；　〃we　shall　soon　be　there。〃　　We　quickened　our　pace。　　After　a　
little　time　he　asked　me　if　I　was　going　farther　than　Pont　Erwyd。

〃I　am　bound　for　the　bridge　of　the　evil　man；〃　said　I；　〃but　I　daresay　
I　shall　stop　at　Pont　Erwyd　to…night。〃

〃You　will　do　right；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　only　three　miles　from　Pont　
Erwyd　to　the　bridge　of　the　evil　man；　but　I　think　we　shall　have　a　
stormy　night。〃

〃When　I　get　to　Pont　Erwyd；〃　said　I；　〃how　far　shall　I　be　from　South　
Wales？〃

〃From　South　Wales！〃　said　he；　〃you　are　in　South　Wales　now；　you　
passed　the　Terfyn　of　North　Wales　a　quarter　of　an　hour　ago。〃

The　rain　now　fell　fast　and　there　was　so　thick　a　mist　that　I　could　
only　see　a　few　yards　before　me。　　We　descended　into　a　valley；　at　the　
bottom　of　which　I　heard　a　river　roaring。

〃That's　the　Rheidol；〃　said　my　guide；　〃coming　from　Pumlimmon；　
swollen　with　rain。〃

Without　descending　to　the　river；　we　turned　aside　up　a　hill；　and；　
after　passing　by　a　few　huts；　came　to　a　large　house；　which　my　guide　
told　me　was　the　inn　of　Pont　Erwyd。



CHAPTER　LXXXII



Consequential　Landlord　…　Cheek　…　Darfel　Gatherel　…　Dafydd　Nanmor　…　
Sheep　Farms　…　Wholesome　Advice　…　The　Old　Postman　…　The　Plant　de　Bat　
…　The　Robber's　Cavern。


MY　guide　went　to　a　side　door；　and　opening　it　without　ceremony　went　
in。　　I　followed　and　found　myself　in　a　spacious　and　comfortable…
looking　kitchen：　　a　large　fire　blazed　in　a　huge　grate；　on　one　side　
of　which　was　a　settle；　plenty　of　culinary　utensils；　both　pewter　and　
copper；　hung　around　on　the　walls；　and　several　goodly　rows　of　hams　
and　sides　of　bacon　were　suspended　from　the　roof。　　There　were　
several　people　present；　some　on　the　settle　and　others　on　chairs　in　
the　vicinity　of　the　fire。　　As　I　advanced；　a　man　arose　from　a　chair　
and　came　towards　me。　　He　was　about　thirty…five　years　of　age；　well　
and　strongly　made；　with　a　fresh　complexion；　a　hawk　nose；　and　a　keen　
grey　eye。　　He　wore　top…boots　and　breeches；　a　half　jockey　coat；　and　
had　a　round　cap　made　of　the　skin　of　some　animal　on　his　head。

　〃Servant；　sir！〃　said　he　in　rather　a　sharp　tone；　and　surveying　me　
with　something　of　a　supercilious　air。

〃Your　most　obedient　humble　servant！〃　said　I；　〃I　presume　you　are　the　
landlord　of　this　house。〃

〃Landlord！〃　said　he；　〃landlord！　　It　is　true　I　receive　guests　
sometimes　into　my　house；　but　I　do　so　solely　with　the　view　of　
accommodating　them；　I　do　not　depend　upon　innkeeping　for　a　
livelihood。　　I　hire　the　principal　part　of　the　land　in　this　
neighbourhood。〃

〃If　that　be　the　case；〃　said　I；　〃I　had　better　continue　my　way　to　the　
Devil's　Bridge；　I　am　not　at　all　tired；　and　I　believe　it　is　not　very　
far　distant。〃

〃Oh；　as　you　are　here；〃　said　the　farmer…landlord；　〃I　hope　you　will　
stay。　　I　should　be　very　sorry　if　any　gentleman　should　leave　my　
house　at　night　after　coming　with　an　intention　of　staying；　more　
especially　in　a　night　like　this。　　Martha！〃　said　he；　turning　to　a　
female　between　thirty　and　forty　…　who　I　subsequently　learned　was　
the　mistress　…　〃prepare　the　parlour　instantly　for　this　gentleman；　
and　don't　fail　to　make　up　a　good　fire。〃

Martha　forthwith　hurried　away；　attended　by　a　much　younger　female。

〃Till　your　room　is　prepared；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃perhaps　you　will　have　
no　objection　to　sit　down　before　our　fire？〃

〃Not　the　least；〃　said　I；　〃nothing　gives　me　greater　pleasure　than　to　
sit　before　a　kitchen　fire。　　First　of　all；　however；　I　must　settle　
with　my　guide；　and　likewise　see　that　he