\"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。