supposed bonne bouche, and afterwards struggled more steadily, and with less vigour. 66 Egad," said Pedestres, "I think, my boy, I have you now.-Let us play you a little way down the current to a more convenient landing-place, and then methinks we shall do. "The pleasantest fishing is to see the fish, Cut with her golden oars the silver stream, CHAPTER XXVI. THE 9th of July-the day on which Clavileno walked from Capel Curig to Llanberis— the warring elements of the sky had settled themselves down into a tranquil inertness and lassitude. The weather was sultry, and the air undisturbed by a passing zephyr—the heavens serene—the atmosphere transparent and old Snowdon stood out in bold majesty, shooting his grey peaks aloft, as if he were endeavouring to prick holes in the firmament, and thereby make more stars. Our adventurers were now proceeding to make a third attempt at mountain climbing: they had been foiled at Dolgellau and at Beddgelert-but they felt they must succeed in this endeavour, because, (as every body knows,)" the third time is always lucky." The walk was extremely bold and beautiful the road stretches for five miles through an open plain, like a passage between the hollow of two waves; and the distance is closed in by a grand and most favourable view of the turreted and pinnacled great mole-hill of North Wales. The Pass of Llanberis then lies on the right hand, whilst the direct road leads on to Beddgelert. Our two took to the right, not wishing to go wrong-and a stern and rugged scene greets the eye at every point in Cwm Glas or the Blue Vale. It has been said that nothing can find access through this Pass but ponies and pedestrians ;"-but this we will contradict for the benefit of those who go upon wheels, and do not either make use of the four (fore) legs of a horse, or the hind legs of themselves. Just at the most elevated part of the road, which is called Gorphwysfa, or the Resting Place (and not a bad name either), Pedestres was overtaken by a po-chaise, containing several persons apparently in search of the picturesque. They were terribly shaken, to be sure, when they descended the hill-as badly perhaps as Regulus inside his hogshead --and the hind-leggers thought within themselves "You poor devils there in the churn, had much better just chuck your vehicle over the precipice,-brace up your shoulders with knapsacks and walk rationally as we do." The little church at Llanberis, or of St. Peris, is finely situated-the lakes are beautiful and Dolbadern Castle sweetly conspicuous. This castle is supposed to be of British origin, and was probably built in the sixth century; as it belonged to Maelgwn Gwynedd, prince of North Wales, during his contests with the Saxons. Owain Goch, the rebellious brother of Llewelyn-ab-Jorwerth, was kept within its walls a prisoner for twenty years. Little now remains, save a circular tower, which was once probably the citadel, and the foundations of a few circumjacent buildings it is said to have been ninety feet high, and to have contained three stories above the dungeon. "One would scarcely imagine," said the planet to his satellite, "that yonder peak of the mountain shooting into the clouds, were really so very high above our heads." Why, the thing is," answered the other; "we are so directly under it, that we foreshorten the distance considerably and if we were five or six miles distant we should be much better able to judge of its real form and elevation, than we can here, close under its base." Perhaps so," observed Pedestr: "we look at it diagonally." "I suppose you mean," said Clavileno, "that we foreshorten the appearance of the mountain." "Foreshorten-what is that?" "Ah! very good!—you tell me you don't know what to foreshorten signifies?" Not I, i'faith-how should I?" By Jupiter! did I ever hear anything like that! Why, if I did not acknowledge you my master, I would verily call you a great blockhead." "What would you?" "A great blockhead, would I." |