\"TworegularSaxon—hatingWelshwomen，\"saidI，philosophically；
\"justofthesamesortnodoubtasthosewhoplayedsuchpranksontheslainbodiesoftheEnglishsoldiers，afterthevictoryachievedbyGlendoweroverMortimerontheSevern’sside。\"
Iproceededinthedirectionindicated，windingroundthesideofthehill，thesamemountainwhichtheoldmanhadpointedouttomesometimebefore。Atlength，onmakingaturnIsawaveryloftymountaininthefardistancetothesouth—west，ahillrightbeforemetothesouth，and，onmyleft，ameadowoverhungbythesouthernhill，inthemiddleofwhichstoodahousefromwhichproceededaviolentbarkingofdogs。Iwouldfainhavemadeimmediatelyuptoitforthepurposeofinquiringmyway，butsawnomeansofdoingso，ahighprecipitousbanklyingbetweenitandme。Iwentforwardandascendedthesideofthehillbeforeme，andpresentlycametoapathrunningeastandwest。Ifolloweditalittlewaytowardstheeast。Iwasnowjustabovethehouse，andsawsomechildrenandsomedogsstandingbesideit。SuddenlyIfoundmyselfclosetoamanwhostoodinahollowpartoftheroad，fromwhichanarrowpathleddowntothehouse；adonkeywithpanniersstoodbesidehim。Hewasaboutfiftyyearsofage，withacarbuncledcountenance，highbutnarrowforehead，greyeyebrows，andsmall，malignantgreyeyes。Hehadawhitehat，withnarroweavesandthecrownpartlyknockedout，atornbluecoat，corduroybreeches，longstockingsandhighlows。Hewassuckingacuttypipe，butseemedunabletoextractanysmokefromit。Hehadalltheappearanceofavagabond，andofaratherdangerousvagabond。Inoddedtohim，andaskedhiminWelshthenameoftheplace。Heglaredatmemalignantly，then，takingthepipeoutofhismouth，saidthathedidnotknow，thathehadbeendownbelowtoinquireandlighthispipe，butcouldgetneitherlightnoranswerfromthechildren。I
askedhimwherehecamefrom，butheevadedthequestionbyaskingwhereIwasgoingto。
\"TothePontyGwrDrwg，\"saidI。
HethenaskedmeifIwasanEnglishman。
\"Ohyes，\"saidI，\"IamCarnSais；\"whereupon，withastrangemixtureinhisfaceofmalignityandcontempt，heansweredinEnglishthathedidn’tunderstandme。
\"Youunderstoodmeverywell，\"saidI，withoutchangingmylanguage，\"tillItoldyouIwasanEnglishman。Harkee，manwiththebrokenhat，youareoneofthebadWelshwhodon’tliketheEnglishtoknowthelanguage，lesttheyshoulddiscoveryourliesandrogueries。\"HeevidentlyunderstoodwhatIsaid，forhegnashedhisteeth，thoughhesaidnothing。\"Well，\"saidI，\"I
shallgodowntothosechildrenandinquirethenameofthehouse；\"
andIforthwithbegantodescendthepath，thefellowutteringacontemptuous\"humph\"behindme，asmuchastosay，\"Muchyou’llmakeoutdownthere。\"Isoonreachedthebottomandadvancedtowardsthehouse。Thedogshadallalongbeenbarkingviolently；
asIdrewneartothem，however，theyceased，andtwoofthelargestcameforwardwaggingtheirtails。\"Thedogswerenotbarkingatme，\"saidI，\"butatthatvagabondabove。\"Iwentuptothechildren；theywerefourinnumber，twoboysandtwogirls，allred—haired，buttolerablygood—looking。Theyhadneithershoesnorstockings。\"Whatisthenameofthishouse？\"saidItotheeldest，aboyaboutsevenyearsold。Helookedatme，butmadenoanswer。
Irepeatedmyquestion；stilltherewasnoanswer，butmethoughtI
heardahumphoftriumphfromthehill。\"Don’tcrowquiteyet，oldchap，\"thoughtItomyself，andputtingmyhandintomypocket，I
tookoutapenny，andofferingittothechildsaid：\"Now，smallman，Pethywyenwyllehwn？\"Instantlytheboy’sfacebecameintelligent，andputtingoutafatlittlehand，hetooktheceiniogandsaidinanaudiblewhisper，\"WaenyBwlch。\"\"Iamallright，\"
saidItomyself；\"thatisoneofthenamesoftheplaceswhichtheoldostlersaidImustgothrough。\"ThenaddressingmyselftothechildIsaid：\"Where’syourfatherandmother？\"
\"Outonthehill，\"whisperedthechild。
\"What’syourfather？\"
\"Ashepherd。\"
\"Good，\"saidI。\"Nowcanyoutellmethewaytothebridgeoftheevilman？\"Butthefeaturesbecameblank，thefingerwasputtothemouth，andtheheadwashungdown。Thatquestionwasevidentlybeyondthechild’scapacity。\"Thankyou！\"saidI，andturningroundIregainedthepathonthetopofthebank。Thefellowandhisdonkeywerestillthere。\"Ihadnodifficulty，\"saidI，\"inobtaininginformation；theplace’snameisWaenyBwlch。ButoesgenochdimCumraeg—youhavenoWelsh。\"ThereuponIproceededalongthepathinthedirectionoftheeast。Forthwiththefellowsaidsomethingtohisanimal，andbothcamefollowingfastbehind。
Iquickenedmypace，butthefellowandhisbeastwerecloseinmyrear。PresentlyIcametoaplacewhereanotherpathbranchedofftothesouth。Istopped，lookedatit，andthenwenton，butscarcelyhaddonesowhenIheardanotherexulting\"humph\"behind。
\"Iamgoingwrong，\"saidItomyself；\"thatotherpathisthewaytotheDevil’sBridge，andthescampknowsitorhewouldnothavegrunted。\"ForthwithIfacedround，andbrushingpastthefellowwithoutawordturnedintotheotherpathandhurriedalongit。ByasideglancewhichIcastIcouldseehimstaringafterme；
presently，however，heutteredasoundverymuchlikeaWelshcurse，and，kickinghisbeast，proceededonhisway，andIsawnomoreofhim。InalittletimeIcametoasloughwhichcrossedthepath。Ididnotlikethelookofitatall，andtoavoiditventureduponsomegreenmossy—lookinggroundtotheleft，andhadscarcelydonesowhenIfoundmyselfimmersedtothekneesinabog。I，however，pushedforward，andwithsomedifficultygottothepathontheothersideoftheslough。Ifollowedthepath，andinabouthalf—an—hoursawwhatappearedtobehousesatadistance。
\"GodgrantthatImaybedrawingnearsomeinhabitedplace！\"saidI。
Thepathnowgrewverymiry，andtherewerepoolsofwateroneitherside。Imovedalongslowly。AtlengthIcametoaplacewheresomemenwerebusyinerectingakindofbuilding。Iwentuptothenearestandaskedhimthenameoftheplace。Hehadacrowbarinhishand，washalfnaked，hadawrymouthandonlyoneeye。Hemademenoanswer，butmowedandgibberedatme。
\"ForGod’ssake，\"saidI，\"don’tdoso，buttellmewhereIam！\"
Hestillutterednoword，butmowedandgibberedyetmorefrightfullythanbefore。AsIstoodstaringathimanothermancametomeandsaidinbrokenEnglish：\"Itisofnousespeakingtohim，sir，heisdeafanddumb。\"
\"Iamgladheisnoworse，\"saidI，\"forIreallythoughthewaspossessedwiththeevilone。Mygoodperson，canyoutellmethenameofthisplace？\"
\"EsgyrnHirion，sir，\"saidhe。
\"EsgyrnHirion，\"saidItomyself；\"Esgyrnmeans’bones，’andHirionmeans’long。’IamdoubtlessattheplacewhichtheoldostlercalledLongBones。Ishouldn’twonderifIgettotheDevil’sBridgeto—nightafterall。\"Ithenaskedthemanifhecouldtellmethewaytothebridgeoftheevilman，butheshookhisheadandsaidthathehadneverheardofsuchaplace，adding，however，thathewouldgowithmetooneoftheoverseers，whocouldperhapsdirectme。Hethenproceededtowardsarowofbuildings，whichwere，infact，thoseobjectswhichIhadguessedtobehousesinthedistance。Heledmetoacornerhouse，atthedoorofwhichstoodamiddle—agedman，dressedinagreycoat，andsayingtome，\"Thispersonisanoverseer，\"returnedtohislabour。
Iwentuptotheman，and，salutinghiminEnglish，askedwhetherhecoulddirectmetotheDevil’sBridge，orrathertoPontErwyd。
\"Itwouldbeofnousedirectingyou，sir，\"saidhe，\"forwithallthedirectionsintheworlditwouldbeimpossibleforyoutofindtheway。Youwouldnothaveleftthesepremisesfiveminutesbeforeyouwouldbeinamazewithoutknowingwhichwaytoturn。
Wheredoyoucomefrom？\"
\"FromMachynlleth，\"Ireplied。
\"FromMachynlleth！\"saidhe。\"Well，Ionlywonderyouevergothere，butitwouldbemadnesstogofartheralone。\"
\"Well，\"saidI，\"canIobtainaguide？\"
\"Ireallydon’tknow，\"saidhe；\"Iamafraidallthemenareengaged。\"
Aswewerespeakingayoungmanmadehisappearanceatthedoorfromtheinteriorofthehouse。Hewasdressedinabrownshortcoat，hadaglazedhatonhishead，andhadapalebutveryintelligentcountenance。
\"Whatisthematter？\"saidhetotheotherman。
\"Thisgentleman，\"repliedthelatter，\"isgoingtoPontErwyd，andwantsaguide。\"
\"Well，\"saidtheyoungman，\"wemustfindhimone。Itwillneverdotolethimgobyhimself。\"
\"Ifyoucanfindmeaguide，\"saidI，\"Ishallbehappytopayhimforhistrouble。\"
\"Oh，youcandoasyoupleaseaboutthat，\"saidtheyoungman；
\"but，payornot，wewouldneversufferyoutoleavethisplacewithoutaguide，andasmuchforourownsakeasyours；forthedirectorsoftheCompanywouldneverforgiveusiftheyheardwehadsufferedagentlemantoleavethesepremiseswithoutaguide，moreespeciallyifhewerelost，asitisahundredtooneyouwouldbeifyouwentbyyourself。\"
\"Pray，\"saidI，\"whatCompanyisthis，thedirectorsofwhicharesosolicitousaboutthesafetyofstrangers？\"
\"ThePotosiMiningCompany，\"saidhe，\"therichestinallWales。
Butpraywalkinandsitdown，foryoumustbetired。\"
CHAPTERLXXXI
TheMiningComptingRoom—NativeofAberystwyth—StoryofaBloodhound—TheYoungGirls—TheMiner’sTale—GwenFrwd—TheTerfyn。
IFOLLOWEDtheyoungmanwiththeglazedhatintoaroom，theothermanfollowingbehindme。Heoftheglazedhatmademesitdownbeforeaturffire，apologisingforitssmokingverymuch。Theroomseemedhalfcompting—room，halfapartment。Therewasawoodendeskwithaledgeruponitbythewindow，whichlookedtothewest，andacampbedsteadextendedfromthesouthernwallnearlyuptothedesk。AfterIhadsatforaboutaminute，theyoungmanaskedmeifIwouldtakeanyrefreshment。Ithankedhimforhiskindoffer，whichIdeclined，saying，however，thatifhewouldobtainmeaguideIshouldfeelmuchobliged。Heturnedtotheothermanandtoldhimtogoandinquirewhethertherewasanyonewhowouldbewillingtogo。Theothernodded，andforthwithwentout。
\"Youthink，then，\"saidI，\"thatIcouldnotfindthewaybymyself？\"
\"Iamsureofit，\"saidhe，\"foreventhepeoplebestacquaintedwiththecountryfrequentlylosetheirway。ButImusttellyou，thatifwedofindyouaguide，itwillprobablybeonewhohasnoEnglish。\"
\"Nevermind，\"saidI，\"IhaveenoughWelshtoholdacommondiscourse。\"
Afinegirlaboutfourteennowcamein，andbeganbustlingabout。
\"Whoisthisyounglady？\"saidI。
\"Thedaughterofacaptainofaneighbouringmine，\"saidhe；\"shefrequentlycomesherewithmessages，andisalwaysreadytodoaturnaboutthehouse，forsheisveryhandy。\"
\"HassheanyEnglish？\"saidI。
\"Notaword，\"hereplied。\"TheyoungpeopleofthesehillshavenoEnglish，excepttheygoabroadtolearnit。\"
\"Whathillsarethese？\"saidI。
\"PartofthePlynlimmonrange，\"saidhe。
\"Dearme，\"saidI，\"amInearPlynlimmon？\"
\"Notveryfarfromit，\"saidtheyoungman，\"andyouwillbenearerwhenyoureachPontErwyd。\"
\"Areyouanativeoftheseparts？\"saidI。
\"Iamnot，\"hereplied；\"IamanativeofAberystwyth，aplaceonthesea—coastaboutadozenmilesfromhere。\"
\"Thisseemstobeacold，bleakspot，\"saidI；\"isithealthy？\"
\"Ihavereasontosayso，\"saidhe；\"forIcameherefromAberystwythaboutfourmonthsagoveryunwell，andamnowperfectlyrecovered。IdonotbelievethereisahealthierspotinallWales。\"
Wehadsomefurtherdiscourse。ImentionedtohimtheadventurewhichIhadonthehillwiththefellowwiththedonkey。Theyoungmansaidthathehadnodoubtthathewassomeprowlingthief。
\"Thedogsoftheshepherd’shouse，\"saidI，\"didn’tseemtolikehim，anddogsgenerallyknowanevilcustomer。AlongtimeagoI
chancedtobeinaposada，orinn，atValladolidinSpain。Onehotsummer’safternoonIwasseatedinacorridorwhichranroundalargeopencourtinthemiddleoftheinn；afineyellow，three—
parts—grownbloodhoundwaslyingonthegroundbesidemewithwhomIhadbeenplaying，alittletimebefore。Iwasjustabouttofallasleep，whenIhearda’hem’attheoutwarddooroftheposada，whichwasalongwaybelowattheendofapassagewhichcommunicatedwiththecourt。Instantlythehoundstarteduponhislegs，andwithaloudyell，andwitheyesflashingfire，rannearlyroundthecorridor，downaflightofsteps，andthroughthepassagetothegate。Therewasthenadreadfulnoise，inwhichthecriesofahumanbeingandtheyellsofthehoundwereblended。I
forthwithstartedupandrandown，followedbyseveralotherguests，whocamerushingoutoftheirchambersroundthecorridor。
Atthegatewesawamanonthegroundandthehoundtryingtostranglehim。Itwaswiththegreatestdifficulty，andchieflythroughtheinterventionofthemasterofthedog，whohappenedtobepresent，thattheanimalcouldbemadetoquithishold。Theassailedpersonwasaverypowerfulman，buthadanevilcountenance，wasbadlydressed，andhadneitherhat，shoesnorstockings。Weraisedhimupandgavehimwine，whichhedrankgreedily，andpresently，withoutsayingaword，disappeared。Theguestssaidtheyhadnodoubtthathewasamurdererflyingfromjustice，andthatthedogbyhisinstinct，evenatadistance，knewhimtobesuch。Themastersaidthatitwasthefirsttimethatthedoghadeverattackedanyoneorshowntheslightestsymptomofferocity。Nottheleastsingularpartofthematterwas，thatthedogdidnotbelongtothehouse，buttooneoftheguestsfromadistantvillage；thecreaturethereforecouldnotconsideritselfthehouse’sguardian。\"
Ihadscarcelyfinishedmytalewhentheothermancameinandsaidthathehadfoundaguide，ayoungmanfromPontErwyd，whowouldbegladofsuchanopportunitytogoandseehisparents，thathewasthendressinghimself，andwouldshortlymakehisappearance。
Inabouttwentyminuteshedidso。Hewasastoutyoungfellowwithacoarsebluecoat，andcoarsewhitefelthat；heheldastickinhishand。Thekindyoungbook—keepernowadvisedustosetoutwithoutdelay，asthedaywasdrawingtoacloseandthewaywaslong。Ishookhimbythehand，toldhimthatIshouldneverforgethiscivility，anddepartedwiththeguide。
Thefineyounggirl，whomIhavealreadymentioned，andanotherabouttwoyearsyounger，departedwithus。TheyweredressedinthegracefulfemaleattireofoldWales。
Weboretothesouthdownadescent，andcametosomemoory，quaggygroundintersectedwithwater—courses。Theagilityoftheyounggirlssurprisedme；theysprangoverthewater—courses，someofwhichwereatleastfourfeetwide，withtheeaseandalacrityoflawns。Afterashorttimewecametoaroad，which，however，wedidnotlongreapthebenefitof，asitonlyledtoamine。Seeingahouseonthetopofahill，Iaskedmyguidewhoseitwas。
\"Typowdr，\"saidhe，\"apowderhouse，\"bywhichIsupposedhemeantamagazineofpowderusedforblastinginthemines。HehadnotawordofEnglish……Iftheyounggirlswerenimblewiththeirfeet，theywerenotlesssowiththeirtongues，astheykeptupanincessantgabblewitheachotherandwiththeguide。Iunderstoodlittleofwhattheysaid，theirvolubilitypreventingmefromcatchingmorethanafewwords。Afterwehadgoneabouttwomilesandahalf，theydartedawaywithsurprisingswiftnessdownahilltowardsadistanthouse，where，asIlearnedfrommyguide，thefatheroftheeldestlived。Weascendedahill，passedbetweentwocraggyelevations，andthenwendedtothesouth—eastoverastrange，miryplace，inwhichIthoughtanyoneatnightnotacquaintedwitheveryinchofthewaywouldrunimminentriskofperishing。Ienteredintoconversationwithmyguide。AfteralittletimeheaskedmeifIwasaWelshman。Itoldhimno。
\"YoucouldteachmanyaWelshman，\"saidhe。
\"Whydoyouthinkso？\"saidI。
\"Becausemanyofyourwordsarequiteabovemycomprehension，\"saidhe。
\"Nogreatcompliment，\"thoughtItomyself；butputtingagoodfaceuponthematterItoldhimthatIknewagreatmanyoldWelshwords。
\"IsPotosianoldWelshword？\"saidhe。
\"No，\"saidI；\"itisthenameofamineintheDeheubarthofAmerica。\"
\"Isitaleadmine？\"
\"No！\"saidI，\"itisasilvermine。\"
\"Thenwhydotheycallourmine，whichisaleadmine，bythenameofasilvermine？\"
\"Becausetheywishtogivepeopletounderstand，\"saidI，\"thatitisveryrich—asrichinleadasPotosiinsilver。Potosiis，orwas，therichestsilvermineintheworld，andfromithascomeatleastonehalfofthesilverwhichweuseintheshapeofmoneyandotherthings。\"
\"Well，\"saidhe，\"Ihavefrequentlyasked，butcouldneverlearnbeforewhyourminewascalledPotosi。\"
\"Youdidnotaskattherightquarter，\"saidI；\"theyoungmanwiththeglazedhatcouldhavetoldyouaswellasI。\"IinquiredwhytheplacewheretheminewasborethenameofEsgyrnHirionorLongBones。Hetoldmethathedidnotknow，butbelievedthatthebonesofacawrorgianthadbeenfoundthereinancienttimes。I
askedhimiftheminewasdeep。
\"Verydeep，\"hereplied。
\"Doyoulikethelifeofaminer？\"saidI。
\"Verymuch，\"saidhe，\"andshouldlikeitmore，butforthenoisesofthehill。\"
\"Doyoumeanthepowderblasts？\"saidI。
\"Ohno！\"saidhe，\"Icarenothingforthem；Imeanthenoisesmadebythespiritsofthehillinthemine。Sometimestheymakesuchnoisesasfrightenthepoorfellowwhoworksundergroundoutofhissenses。OnceonatimeIwasworkingbymyselfverydeepunderground，inalittlechambertowhichaverydeepshaftled。I
hadjusttakenupmylighttosurveymywork，whenallofasuddenIheardadreadfulrushingnoise，asifanimmensequantityofearthhadcometumblingdown。’OhGod！’saidI，andfellbackwards，lettingthelightfall，whichinstantlywentout。I
thoughtthewholeshafthadgivenway，andthatIwasburiedalive。
Ilayforseveralhourshalfstupefied，thinkingnowandthenwhatadreadfulthingitwastobeburiedalive。AtlengthIthoughtI
wouldgetup，gotothemouthoftheshaft，feelthemould，withwhichitwaschokedup，andthencomeback，liedown，anddie。SoIgotupandtotteredtothemouthoftheshaft，putoutmyhandandfelt—nothing；allwasclear。Iwentforward，andpresentlyfelttheladder。Nothinghadfallen；allwasjustthesameaswhenIcamedown。IwasdreadfullyafraidthatIshouldneverbeabletogetupinthedarkwithoutbreakingmyneck；however，Itried，andatlast，withagreatdealoftoilanddanger，gottoaplacewhereothermenwereworking。Thenoisewascausedbythespiritsofthehillinthehopeofdrivingthemineroutofhissenses。
Theyverynearlysucceeded。IshallneverforgethowIfeltwhenI
thoughtIwasburiedalive。Ifitwerenotforthosenoisesinthehill，thelifeofaminerwouldbequiteheavenbelow。\"
Wecametoacottagestandingunderahillock，downthesideofwhichtumbledastreamletclosebythenorthernsideofthebuilding。Thedoorwasopen，andinsideweretwoorthreefemalesandsomechildren。\"Haveyouanyenwyn？\"saidthelad，peepingin。
\"Ohyes！\"saidavoice—\"digon！digon！\"Presentlyabuxom，laughinggirlbroughtouttwodishesofbuttermilk，oneofwhichshehandedtomeandtheothertotheguide。Iaskedherthenameoftheplace。
\"GwenFrwd—the’FairRivulet，’\"saidshe。
\"Wholiveshere？\"
\"Ashepherd。\"
\"HaveyouanyEnglish？\"
\"Nagos！\"saidshe，burstingintoaloudlaugh。\"WhatshouldwedowithEnglishhere？\"AfterwehaddrunkthebuttermilkIofferedthegirlsomemoney，butshedrewbackherhandangrily，andsaid：\"Wedon’ttakemoneyfromtiredstrangersfortwodropsofbuttermilk；
there’splentywithin，andthereareathousandewesonthehill。
Farvel！\"
\"Dearme！\"thoughtItomyselfasIwalkedaway；\"thatIshouldonceinmydayshavefoundshepherdlifesomethingaspoetshaverepresentedit！\"
Isawamightymountainataconsiderabledistanceontheright，thesameIbelievewhichIhadnotedsomehoursbefore。IinquiredofmyguidewhetheritwasPlynlimmon。
\"Ohno！\"saidhe，\"thatisGaverse；Pumlimmonistotheleft。\"
\"Plynlimmonisafamedhill，\"saidI；\"Isupposeitisveryhigh。\"
\"Yes！\"saidhe，\"itishigh；butitisnotfamedbecauseitishigh，butbecausethethreegrandriversoftheworldissuefromitsbreast，theHafren，theRheidol，andtheGwy。\"
Nightwasnowcomingrapidlyon，attendedwithadrizzlingrain。I
inquiredifwewerefarfromPontErwyd。\"Aboutamile，\"saidmyguide；\"weshallsoonbethere。\"Wequickenedourpace。AfteralittletimeheaskedmeifIwasgoingfartherthanPontErwyd。
\"Iamboundforthebridgeoftheevilman，\"saidI；\"butIdaresayIshallstopatPontErwydto—night。\"
\"Youwilldoright，\"saidhe；\"itisonlythreemilesfromPontErwydtothebridgeoftheevilman，butIthinkweshallhaveastormynight。\"
\"WhenIgettoPontErwyd，\"saidI，\"howfarshallIbefromSouthWales？\"
\"FromSouthWales！\"saidhe；\"youareinSouthWalesnow；youpassedtheTerfynofNorthWalesaquarterofanhourago。\"
TherainnowfellfastandtherewassothickamistthatIcouldonlyseeafewyardsbeforeme。Wedescendedintoavalley，atthebottomofwhichIheardariverroaring。
\"That’stheRheidol，\"saidmyguide，\"comingfromPumlimmon，swollenwithrain。\"
Withoutdescendingtotheriver，weturnedasideupahill，and，afterpassingbyafewhuts，cametoalargehouse，whichmyguidetoldmewastheinnofPontErwyd。
CHAPTERLXXXII
ConsequentialLandlord—Cheek—DarfelGatherel—DafyddNanmor—
SheepFarms—WholesomeAdvice—TheOldPostman—ThePlantdeBat—TheRobber’sCavern。
MYguidewenttoasidedoor，andopeningitwithoutceremonywentin。Ifollowedandfoundmyselfinaspaciousandcomfortable—
lookingkitchen：alargefireblazedinahugegrate，ononesideofwhichwasasettle；plentyofculinaryutensils，bothpewterandcopper，hungaroundonthewalls，andseveralgoodlyrowsofhamsandsidesofbaconweresuspendedfromtheroof。Therewereseveralpeoplepresent，someonthesettleandothersonchairsinthevicinityofthefire。AsIadvanced，amanarosefromachairandcametowardsme。Hewasaboutthirty—fiveyearsofage，wellandstronglymade，withafreshcomplexion，ahawknose，andakeengreyeye。Heworetop—bootsandbreeches，ahalfjockeycoat，andhadaroundcapmadeoftheskinofsomeanimalonhishead。
\"Servant，sir！\"saidheinratherasharptone，andsurveyingmewithsomethingofasuperciliousair。
\"Yourmostobedienthumbleservant！\"saidI；\"Ipresumeyouarethelandlordofthishouse。\"
\"Landlord！\"saidhe，\"landlord！ItistrueIreceiveguestssometimesintomyhouse，butIdososolelywiththeviewofaccommodatingthem；Idonotdependuponinnkeepingforalivelihood。Ihiretheprincipalpartofthelandinthisneighbourhood。\"
\"Ifthatbethecase，\"saidI，\"IhadbettercontinuemywaytotheDevil’sBridge；Iamnotatalltired，andIbelieveitisnotveryfardistant。\"
\"Oh，asyouarehere，\"saidthefarmer—landlord，\"Ihopeyouwillstay。Ishouldbeverysorryifanygentlemanshouldleavemyhouseatnightaftercomingwithanintentionofstaying，moreespeciallyinanightlikethis。Martha！\"saidhe，turningtoafemalebetweenthirtyandforty—whoIsubsequentlylearnedwasthemistress—\"preparetheparlourinstantlyforthisgentleman，anddon’tfailtomakeupagoodfire。\"
