"Heddycholddyffryntlws，"
　　Peaceful，prettyvale，andcontainsmanylinesbreathingaspiritofgenuinepoetry。
　　ThenextdayIdidnotgetuptillnine，havingnojourneybeforeme，asIintendedtopassthatdayatMachynlleth。WhenIwentdowntotheparlourIfoundanotherguestthere，breakfasting。Hewasatall，burly，andclever—lookingmanofaboutthirty—five。Aswebreakfastedtogetheratthesametableweenteredintoconversation。Ilearnedfromhimthathewasanattorneyfromatownatsomedistance，andwascomeovertoMachynllethtothepettysessions，tobeheldthatday，inordertodefendapersonaccusedofspearingasalmonintheriver。Iaskedhimwhohisclientwas。
　　"Afarmer，"saidhe，"atenantofLordV—，whowillprobablypresideoverthebenchwhichwilltrytheaffair。"
　　"Oh，"saidI，"atenantspearinghislandlord’sfish—that’sbad。"
　　"No，"saidhe，"thefishwhichhespeared，thatis，whichheisaccusedofspearing，didnotbelongtohislandlordbuttoanotherperson；hehireslandofLordV—，butthefishingoftheriverwhichrunsthroughthatlandbelongstoSirWatkin。"
　　"Oh，then，"saidI，"supposinghedidspearthesalmonIshan’tbreakmyheartifyougethimoff：doyouthinkyoushall？"
　　"Idon’tknow，"saidhe。"There’stheevidenceoftwokeepersagainsthim；oneofwhomIhope，however，tomakeappearascoundrel，inwhoseoaththeslightestconfidenceisnottobeplaced。Ishouldn’twonderifImakemyclientappearapersecutedlamb。Theworstis，thathehasthecharacterofbeingratherfondoffish，indeedofhavingspearedmoresalmonthananyothersixindividualsintheneighbourhood。"
　　"Ireallyshouldliketoseehim，"saidI；"whatkindofpersonishe？—somefine，desperate—lookingfellow，Isuppose？"
　　"Youwillseehimpresently，"saidthelawyer；"heisinthepassagewaitingtillIcallhimintotakesomeinstructionsfromhim；andIthinkIhadbetterdosonow，forIhavebreakfasted，andtimeiswearingaway。"
　　Hethengotup，tooksomepapersoutofacarpetbag，satdown，andafterglancingatthemforaminuteortwo，wenttothedoorandcalledtosomebodyinWelshtocomein。Forthwithincameasmall，mean，wizzened—facedmanofaboutsixty，dressedinablackcoatandhat，drabbreechesandgaiters，andlookingmorelikeadecayedMethodistpreacherthanaspearerofimperialsalmon。
　　"Well，"saidtheattorney，"Thisismyclient，whatdoyouthinkofhim？"
　　"HeisratheradifferentpersonfromwhatIhadexpectedtosee，"
　　saidI；"butletusmindwhatwesayorweshalloffendhim。"
　　"Notwe，"saidtheattorney；"thatis，unlesswespeakWelsh，forheunderstandsnotawordofanyotherlanguage。"
　　ThensittingdownatthefurthertablehesaidtohisclientinWelsh："Now，MrSo—and—so，haveyoulearntanythingmoreaboutthatfirstkeeper？"
　　Theclientbentdown，andplacingbothhishandsuponthetablebegantowhisperinWelshtohisprofessionaladviser。NotwishingtohearanyoftheirconversationIfinishedmybreakfastassoonaspossibleandlefttheroom。Goingintotheinn—yardIhadagreatdealoflearneddiscoursewithanoldostlerabouttheglandersinhorses。Fromtheinn—yardIwenttomyownprivateroomandmadesomedottingsinmynote—book，andthenwentdownagaintotheparlour，whichIfoundunoccupied。AftersittingsometimebeforethefireIgotup，andstrollingout，presentlycametoakindofmarketplace，inthemiddleofwhichstoodanold—
　　fashioned—lookingedificesupportedonpillars。SeeingacrowdstandingrounditIaskedwhatwasthematter，andwastoldthatthemagistratesweresittinginthetown—hallabove，andthatagrandpoachingcasewasabouttobetried。"Imayaswellgoandhearit，"saidI。
　　AscendingaflightofstepsIfoundmyselfinthehallofjustice，inthepresenceofthemagistratesandamidstagreatmanypeople，amongstwhomIobservedmyfriendtheattorneyandhisclient。Themagistrates，uponthewhole，wereratherafinebodyofmen。LordV—wasinthechair，ahighlyintelligent—lookingperson，withfreshcomplexion，hookednose，anddarkhair。Apolicemanverycivillyprocuredmeacommodiousseat。Ihadscarcelytakenpossessionofitwhenthepoachingcasewasbroughtforward。Thefirstwitnessagainsttheaccusedwasafellowdressedinadirtysnuff—colouredsuit，withadebauchedlook，andhavingmuchtheappearanceofatownshack。Hedeposedthathewasahiredkeeper，andwentwithanothertowatchtheriverataboutfouro’clockinthemorning；thattheyplacedthemselvesbehindabush，andthatalittlebeforeday—lighttheysawthefarmerdrivesomecattleacrosstheriver。Hewasattendedbyadog。Suddenlytheysawhimputaspearuponastickwhichhehadinhishand，runbacktotheriver，andplungingthespearin，afterastruggle，pulloutasalmon；thattheythenranforward，andhehimselfaskedthefarmerwhathewasdoing，whereuponthefarmerflungthesalmonandspearintotheriverandsaidthatifhedidnottakehimselfoffhewouldflinghimintoo。Theattorneythengotupandbegantocross—questionhim。"Howlonghaveyoubeenakeeper？"
　　"Aboutafortnight。"
　　"Whatdoyougetaweek？"
　　"Tenshillings。"
　　"HaveyounotlatelybeeninLondon？"
　　"Ihave。"
　　"WhatinducedyoutogotoLondon？"
　　"Thehopeofbetteringmycondition。"
　　"WereyounotdrivenoutofMachynlleth？"
　　"Iwasnot。"
　　"WhydidyouleaveLondon？"
　　"BecauseIcouldgetnowork，andmywifedidnotliketheplace。"
　　"Didyouobtainpossessionofthesalmonandthespear？"
　　"Ididnot。"
　　"Whydidn’tyou？"
　　"Thepoolwasdeepwherethesalmonwasstruck，andIwasnotgoingtolosemylifebygoingintoit。"
　　"Howdeepwasit？"
　　"Overthetopsofthehouses，"saidthefellow，liftinguphishands。
　　Theotherkeeperthencameforward；hewasbrothertotheformer，buthadmuchmoretheappearanceofakeeper，beingratherafinefellow，anddressedinawholesome，well—wornsuitofvelveteen。
　　HehadnoEnglish，andwhathesaidwastranslatedbyasworninterpreter。Hegavethesameevidenceashisbrotheraboutwatchingbehindthebush，andseeingthefarmerstrikeasalmon。
　　Whencross—questioned，however，hesaidthatnowordspassedbetweenthefarmerandhisbrother，atleast，thatheheard。Theevidencefortheprosecutionbeinggiven，myfriendtheattorneyentereduponthedefence。Hesaidthathehopedthecourtwerenotgoingtoconvicthisclient，oneofthemostrespectablefarmersinthecounty，ontheevidenceoftwosuchfellowsasthekeepers，oneofwhomwasawell—knownbadone，whoforhisevildeedshadbeendrivenfromMachynllethtoLondon，andfromLondonbackagaintoMachynlleth，andtheother，whowashisbrother，afellownotmuchbetter，andwho，moreover，couldnotspeakawordofEnglish—thehonestlawyerforgettingnodoubtthathisownclienthadjustaslittleEnglishasthekeeper。Herepeatedthathehopedthecourtwouldnotconvicthisrespectableclientontheevidenceofthesefellows，moreespeciallyastheyflatlycontradictedeachotherinonematerialpoint，onesayingthatwordshadpassedbetweenthefarmerandhimself，andtheotherthatnowordsatallhadpassed，andwereunabletocorroboratetheirtestimonybyanythingvisibleortangible。Ifhisclientspearedthesalmonandthenflungthesalmonwiththespearstickinginitsbodyintothepool，whydidn’ttheygointothepoolandrecoverthespearandsalmon？
　　Theymighthavedonesowithperfectsafety，therebeinganoldproverb—heneednotrepeatit—whichwouldhavesecuredthemfromdrowninghadthepoolbeennotmerelyoverthetopsofthehousesbutoverthetopsofthesteeples。Buthewouldwaivealltheadvantagewhichhisclientderivedfromtheevilcharacterofthewitnesses，thediscrepancyoftheirevidence，andtheirnotproducingthespearandsalmonincourt。Hewouldresttheissueoftheaffairwithconfidence，ononeargument，ononequestion；itwasthis。Wouldanymaninhissenses—anditwaswellknownthathisclientwasaverysensibleman—spearasalmonnothisownwhenhesawtwokeeperscloseathandwatchinghim—staringathim？Herethechairmanobservedthattherewasnoproofthathesawthem—thattheywerebehindabush。Butmyfriendtheattorneyveryproperly，havingtheinterestofhisclientandhisowncharacterforconsistencyinview，stucktowhathehadsaid，andinsistedthatthefarmermusthaveseenthem，andhewentonreiteratingthathemusthaveseenthem，notwithstandingthatseveralmagistratesshooktheirheads。
　　JustashewasabouttositdownImovedupbehindhimandwhispered："Whydon’tyoumentionthedog？Wouldn’tthedoghavebeenlikelytohavescentedthefellowsouteveniftheyhadbeenbehindthebush？"
　　Helookedatmeforamomentandthensaidwithakindofsigh：
　　"No，no！twentydogswouldbeofnousehere。It’snogo—Ishallleavethecaseasitis。"
　　Thecourtwasclearedforatime，andwhentheaudiencewereagainadmittedLordV—saidthattheBenchfoundtheprisonerguilty；
　　thattheyhadtakenintoconsiderationwhathiscounselhadsaidinhisdefence，butthattheycouldcometonootherconclusion，moreespeciallyastheaccusedwasknowntohavebeenfrequentlyguiltyofsimilaroffences。Theyfinedhimfourpounds，includingcosts。
　　AsthepeopleweregoingoutIsaidtothefarmerinWelsh："Abadaffairthis。"
　　"Drwgiawn"—verybadindeed，hereplied。
　　"Didthesefellowsspeaktruth？"saidI。
　　"Nage—Dimondcelwydd"—notthey！nothingbutlies。
　　"Dearme！"saidItomyself，"whatanill—treatedindividual！"
　　CHAPTERLXXIX
　　Machynlleth—RemarkableEvents—OdetoGlendower—DafyddGam—
　　Lawdden’sHatchet。
　　MACHYNLLETH，pronouncedMachuncleth，isoneoftheprincipaltownsofthedistrictwhichtheEnglishcallMontgomeryshire，andtheWelshShireTrefaldwynortheShireofBaldwin’stown，TrefaldwynorthetownofBaldwinbeingtheWelshnameforthetownwhichisgenerallytermedMontgomery。ItissituatedinnearlythecentreofthevalleyoftheDyfi，amidstpleasantgreenmeadows，havingtothenorththeriver，fromwhich，however，itisseparatedbyagentlehill。Itpossessesastatelychurch，partsofwhichareofconsiderableantiquity，andoneortwogoodstreets。ItisathoroughlyWelshtown，andtheinhabitants，whoamountinnumbertoaboutfourthousand，speaktheancientBritishlanguagewithconsiderablepurity。
　　Machynllethhasbeenthesceneofremarkableevents，andisconnectedwithremarkablenames，someofwhichhaverungthroughtheworld。AtMachynlleth，in1402，OwenGlendower，afterseveralbrilliantvictoriesovertheEnglish，heldaparliamentinahousewhichisyettobeseenintheEasternStreet，andwasformallycrownedKingofWales；inhisretinuewasthevenerablebardIoloGoch，who，imaginingthathenowsawtheoldprophecyfulfilled，namely，thataprinceoftheraceofCadwaladrshouldruletheBritons，afteremancipatingthemfromtheSaxonyoke，greetedthechieftainwithanode，tothefollowingeffect：—
　　"Here’sthelifeI’vesigh’dforlong：
　　Abash’disnowtheSaxonthrong，AndBritonshaveaBritishlordWhoseemblemistheconqueringsword；
　　There’snoneItrowbutknowshimwell，Theheroofthewaterydell，Owainofbloodyspearinfield，Owainhiscountry’sstrongestshield；
　　Asovereignbrightingrandeurdrest，Whosefrownaffrightsthebravestbreast。
　　LetfromtheworldupsoaronhighAvoiceofsplendidprophecy！
　　AllpraisetohimwhoforthdothstandTo’vengehisinjurednativeland！
　　Ofhim—ofhimalayI’llframeShallbearthroughcountlessyearshisname，Inhimareblendedportentsthree，Theirgloriesblendedsungshallbe：
　　There’sOswain，meteoroftheglen，Theheadofprincelygenerousmen；
　　Owainthelordoftrenchantsteel，Whomakesthehostilesquadronsreel；
　　Owain，besides，ofwarlikelook，Aconquerorwhonostaywillbrook；
　　Hailtothelionleadergay！
　　MarshallerofGriffith’swararray；
　　Thescourgeroftheflatteringrace，Forthemadaggerhashisface；
　　Eachtraitorfalsehelovestosmite，Alionishefordeedsofmight；
　　Soonmayhetear，likeliongrim，AlltheLloegrianslimbfromlimb！
　　MayGodandRome’sblestfatherhighDeckhiminsurestpanoply！
　　Hailtothevaliantcarnager，Worthythreediademstobear！
　　Hailtothevalley’sbeltedking！
　　Hailtothewidelyconquering，Theliberal，hospitable，kind，Trustyandkeenassteelrefined！
　　Vigorousofformhenationsbows，Whilstfromhisbreast—platebountyflows。
　　OfHorsa’sseedonhillandplainFourhundredthousandhehasslain。
　　Thecopestoneofournation’she，Inhimourweal，ourallwesee；
　　Thoughcalmhelookshisplanswhenbreeding，Yetoakshe’dbreakhisclanswhenleading。
　　Hailtothispartisanofwar，Thisburstingmeteorflamingfar！
　　Where’erhewends，SaintPeterguardhim，AndmaytheLordfivelivesawardhim！"
　　ToMachynllethontheoccasionoftheparliamentcameDafyddGam，socelebratedinaftertime；not，however，withtheviewofenteringintothecouncilsofGlendower，orofdoinghimhomage，butofassassinatinghim。Thisman，whosesurnameGamsignifiescrooked，wasapettychieftainofBreconshire。Hewassmallofstatureanddeformedinperson，thoughpossessedofgreatstrength。
　　Hewasverysensitiveofinjury，thoughquiteasalivetokindness；
　　athorough—goingenemyandathorough—goingfriend。Intheearlierpartofhislifehehadbeendrivenfromhisowncountryforkillingaman，calledBigRichardofSlwch，intheHighStreetofAberHondduorBrecon，andhadfoundrefugeinEnglandandkindtreatmentinthehouseofJohnofGaunt，forwhosesonHenry，generallycalledBolingbroke，heformedoneofhisviolentfriendships。Bolingbroke，onbecomingKingHenrytheFourth，notonlyrestoredthecrookedlittleWelshmantohispossessions，butgavehimemploymentsofgreattrustandprofitinHerefordshire。
　　TheinsurrectionofGlendoweragainstHenrywasquitesufficienttokindleagainsthimthedeadlyhatredofDafydd，whoswore"bythenailsofGod"thathewouldstabhiscountrymanfordaringtorebelagainsthisfriendKingHenry，thesonofthemanwhohadreceivedhiminhishouseandcomfortedhimwhenhisowncountrymenwerethreateninghisdestruction。HethereforewenttoMachynllethwiththefullintentionofstabbingGlendower，perfectlyindifferentastowhatmightsubsequentlybehisownfate。Glendower，however，whohadheardofhisthreat，causedhimtobeseizedandconductedinchainstoaprisonwhichhehadinthemountainsofSycharth。
　　Shortlyafterwards，passingthroughBreconshirewithhishost，heburntDafydd’shouse—afairedificecalledtheCyrnigwen，situatedonahillockneartheriverHonddu—totheground，andseeingoneofGam’sdependentsgazingmournfullyonthesmoulderingruinsheutteredthefollowingtauntingenglyn：—
　　"ShouldstthoualittleredmandescryAskingabouthisdwellingfair，Tellhimitunderthebankdothlie，Anditsbrowthemarkofthecoaldothbear。"
　　DafyddremainedconfinedtillthefallofGlendower，shortlyafterwhicheventhefollowedHenrytheFifthtoFrance，whereheachievedthatglorywhichwillforeverbloom，dying，coveredwithwounds，onthefieldofAgincourtaftersavingthelifeoftheking，towhominthedreadestandmostcriticalmomentofthefighthestuckcloserthanabrother，notfromanyabstractfeelingofloyalty，butfromtheconsiderationthatKingHenrytheFifthwasthesonofKingHenrytheFourth，whowasthesonofthemanwhoreceivedandcomfortedhiminhishouse，afterhisowncountrymenhadhuntedhimfromhouseandland。
　　ConnectedwithMachynllethisanamenotsowidelycelebratedasthoseofGlendowerandDafyddGam，butwellknowntoandcherishedbytheloversofWelshsong。ItisthatofLawdden，aWelshbardinholyorders，whoofficiatedaspriestatMachynllethfrom1440
　　to1460。ButthoughMachynllethwashisplaceofresidenceformanyyears，itwasnottheplaceofhisbirth，LychwrinCarmarthenshirebeingthespotwherehefirstsawthelight。Hewasanexcellentpoet，anddisplayedinhiscompositionssucheleganceoflanguage，andsuchaknowledgeofprosody，thatitwascustomary，longafterhisdeath，whenanymasterpieceofvocalsongoreloquencewasproduced，tosaythatitborethetracesofLawdden’shatchet。AttherequestofGriffithapNicholas，apowerfulchieftainofSouthWales，andagreatpatronoftheMuse，hedrewupastatuterelatingtopoetsandpoetry，andatthegreatEisteddfodd，orpoeticalcongress，heldatCarmarthenintheyear1450，undertheauspicesofGriffith，whichwasattendedbythemostcelebratedbardsofthenorthandsouth，heofficiatedasjudge，inconjunctionwiththechieftain，uponthecompositionsofthebardswhocompetedfortheprize—alittlesilverchair。Notwithoutreason，therefore，dotheinhabitantsofMachynllethconsidertheresidenceofsuchamanwithintheirwalls，thoughatafarby—goneperiod，asconferringalustreontheirtown，andLewisMeredithhasprobabilityonhissidewhen，inhisprettypoemonGlenDyfi，hesays：—
　　"WhilstfairMachynllethdecksthyquietplain，ConjoinedwithitshallLawdden’snameremain。"
　　CHAPTERLXXX
　　TheOldOstler—Directions—ChurchofEnglandMan—TheDeepDingle—TheTwoWomen—TheCuttyPipe—WaenyBwlch—TheDeafandDumb—TheGlazedHat。
　　IROSEonthemorningofthe2ndofNovemberintendingtoproceedtotheDevil’sBridge，whereIproposedhaltingadayortwo，inorderthatImighthaveanopportunityofsurveyingthefar—famedsceneryofthatlocality。AfterpayingmybillIwentintotheyardtomyfriendtheoldostler，tomakeinquirieswithrespecttotheroad。
　　"Whatkindofroad，"saidI，"isittotheDevil’sBridge？"
　　"Therearetworoads，sir，tothePontyGwrDrwg；whichdoyoumeantotake？"
　　"WhydoyoucalltheDevil’sBridgethePontyGwrDrwg，orthebridgeoftheevilman？"
　　"Thatwemaynotbringacertaingentlemanuponus，sir，whodoesn’tliketohavehisnametakeninvain。"
　　"Istheirmuchdifferencebetweentheroads？"
　　"Agreatdeal，sir；oneisoverthehills，andtheotherroundbythevalleys。"
　　"Whichistheshortest？"
　　"Oh，thatoverthehills，sir；itisabouttwentymilesfromheretothePontyGwrDrwgoverthehills，butmorethantwicethatbythevalleys。"
　　"Well，Isupposeyouwouldadvisemetogobythehills？"
　　"Certainly，sir—thatis，ifyouwishtobreakyourneck，ortosinkinabog，ortoloseyourway，orperhaps，ifnightcomeson，tomeettheGwrDrwghimselftakingastroll。Buttotalksoberly。
　　Thewayoverthehillsisanawfulroad，and，indeed，forthegreaterpartisnoroadatall。"
　　"Well，Ishallgobyit。Can’tyougivemesomedirections？"
　　"I’lldomybest，sir，butItellyouagainthattheroadisahorribleone，andveryhardtofind。"
　　Hethenwentwithmetothegateoftheinn，wherehebegantogivemedirections，pointingtothesouth，andmentioningsomenamesofplacesthroughwhichImustpass，amongstwhichwereWaenyBwlchandLongBones。AtlengthhementionedPontErwyd，andsaid："Ifyoucanbutgetthere，youareallright，forfromthencethereisaveryfairroadtothebridgeoftheevilman；thoughIdaresayifyougettoPontErwyd—andIwishyoumaygetthere—youwillhavehadenoughofitandwillstaythereforthenight，moreespeciallyasthereisagoodinn。"
　　LeavingMachynlleth，Iascendedasteephillwhichrisestothesouthofit。Fromthetopofthishillthereisafineviewofthetown，theriver，andthewholevalleyoftheDyfi。AfterstoppingforafewminutestoenjoytheprospectIwenton。Theroadatfirstwasexceedinglygood，thoughupanddown，andmakingfrequentturnings。Thescenerywasbeautifultoadegree：loftyhillswereoneitherside，clothedmostluxuriantlywithtreesofvariouskinds，butprincipallyoaks。"Thisisreallyverypleasant，"saidI，"butIsupposeitistoogoodtolastlong。"However，Iwentonforaconsiderableway，theroadneitherdeterioratingnorthescenerydecreasinginbeauty。"SurelyIcan’tbeintherightroad，"saidI；"IwishIhadanopportunityofasking。"Presentlyseeinganoldmanworkingwithaspadeinafieldnearagate，I
　　stoppedandsaidinWelsh："AmIintheroadtothePontyGwrDrwg？"Theoldmanlookedatmeforamoment，thenshoulderinghisspadehecameuptothegate，andsaidinEnglish："Intruth，sir，youare。"
　　"Iwastoldthattheroadthitherwasaverybadone，"saidI，"butthisisquitethecontrary。"
　　"Thisroaddoesnotgomuchfarther，sir，"saidhe；"itwasmadetoaccommodategrandfolkswholiveabouthere。"
　　"YouspeakverygoodEnglish，"saidI；"wheredidyougetit？"
　　Helookedpleased，andsaidthatinhisyouthhehadlivedsomeyearsinEngland。
　　"Canyouread？"saidI。
　　"Ohyes，"saidhe，"bothWelshandEnglish。"
　　"WhathaveyoureadinWelsh？"saidI。
　　"TheBibleandTwmO’rNant。"
　　"WhatpiecesofTwmO’rNanthaveyouread？"
　　"Ihavereadtwoofhisinterludesandhislife。"
　　"Andwhichdoyoulikebest—hislifeorhisinterludes？"
　　"Oh，Ilikehislifebest。"
　　"Andwhatpartofhislifedoyoulikebest？"
　　"Oh，IlikethatpartbestwherehegetstheshipintothewateratAbermarlais。"
　　"Youhaveagoodjudgment，"saidI；"hislifeisbetterthanhisinterludes，andthebestpartofhislifeiswherehedescribeshisgettingtheshipintothewater。ButdotheMethodistsabouthereingeneralreadTwmO’rNant？"
　　"Idon’tknow，"saidbe；"IamnoMethodist。"
　　"DoyoubelongtotheChurch？"
　　"Ido。"
　　"AndwhydoyoubelongtotheChurch？"
　　"BecauseIbelieveitisthebestreligiontogettoheavenby。"
　　"Iammuchofyouropinion，"saidI。"AretheremanyChurchpeopleabouthere？"
　　"Notmany，"saidhe，"butmorethanwhenIwasyoung。"
　　"Howoldareyou？"
　　"Sixty—nine。"
　　"Youarenotveryold，"saidI。
　　"An’tI？Ionlywantoneyearoffulfillingmypropertimeonearth。"
　　"Youtakethingsveryeasily，"saidI。
　　"Notsoveryeasily，sir；Ihaveoftenmyquakingsandfears，butthenIreadmyBible，saymyprayers，andfindhopeandcomfort。"
　　"Ireallyamverygladtohaveseenyou，"saidI；"andnowcanyoutellmethewaytothebridge？"
　　"Notexactly，sir，forIhaveneverbeenthere；butyoumustfollowthisroadsomewayfarther，andthenbearawaytotherightalongyonhill"—andhepointedtoadistantmountain。
　　Ithankedhim，andproceededonmyway。Ipassedthroughadeepdingle，andshortlyafterwardscametotheterminationoftheroad；
　　remembering，however，thedirectionsoftheoldman，，Iboreawaytotheright，makingforthedistantmountain。Mycourselaynowoververybrokengroundwheretherewasnopath，atleastthatI
　　couldperceive。Iwanderedonforsometime；atlengthonturningroundabluffIsawaladtendingasmallherdofbullocks。"AmI
　　intheroad，"saidI，"tothePontyGwrDrwg？"
　　"Nisgwn！Idon’tknow，"saidhesullenly。"Iamahiredservant，andhaveonlybeenherealittletime。"
　　"Where’sthehouse，"saidI，"whereyouserve？"
　　ButashemadenoanswerIlefthim。SomewayfartheronIsawahouseonmyleft，alittlewaydownthesideofadeepdinglewhichwaspartlyoverhungwithtrees，andatthebottomofwhichabrookmurmured。Descendingasteeppath，Iknockedatthedoor。Afteralittletimeitwasopened，andtwowomenappeared，onebehindtheother。Thefirstwasaboutsixty；shewasverypowerfullymade，hadsterngreyeyesandharshfeatures，andwasdressedintheancientWelshfemalefashion，havingakindofriding—habitofblueandahighconicalhatlikethatoftheTyrol。Theotherseemedabouttwentyyearsyounger；shehaddarkfeatures，wasdressedliketheother，buthadnohat。IsalutedthefirstinEnglish，andaskedherthewaytotheBridge，whereuponsheutteredadeepguttural"augh"andturnedawayherhead，seeminglyinabhorrence。
　　IthenspoketoherinWelsh，sayingIwasaforeignman—IdidnotsayaSaxon—wasboundtotheDevil’sBridge，andwantedtoknowtheway。Theoldwomansurveyedmesternlyforsometime，thenturnedtotheotherandsaidsomething，andthetwobegantotalktoeachother，butinalow，buzzingtone，sothatIcouldnotdistinguishaword。Inabouthalfaminutetheeldestturnedtome，andextendingherarmandspreadingoutherfivefingerswide，motionedtothesideofthehillinthedirectionwhichIhadbeenfollowing。
　　"IfIgothatwayshallIgettothebridgeoftheevilman？"saidI，butgotnootheranswerthanafuriousgrimaceandviolentagitationsofthearmandfingersinthesamedirection。Iturnedaway，andscarcelyhadIdonesowhenthedoorwasslammedtobehindmewithgreatforce，andIheardtwo"aughs，"onenotquitesodeepandabhorrentastheother，probablyproceedingfromthethroatoftheyoungerfemale。