about　twenty　years　younger；　she　had　dark　features；　was　dressed　like
  the　other；　but　had　no　hat。　　I　saluted　the　first　in　English；　and
  asked　her　the　way　to　the　Bridge；　whereupon　she　uttered　a　deep
  guttural　〃augh〃　and　turned　away　her　head；　seemingly　in　abhorrence。
  I　then　spoke　to　her　in　Welsh；　saying　I　was　a　foreign　man　…　I　did
  not　say　a　Saxon　…　was　bound　to　the　Devil's　Bridge；　and　wanted　to
  know　the　way。　　The　old　woman　surveyed　me　sternly　for　some　time；
  then　turned　to　the　other　and　said　something；　and　the　two　began　to
  talk　to　each　other；　but　in　a　low；　buzzing　tone；　so　that　I　could　not
  distinguish　a　word。　　In　about　half　a　minute　the　eldest　turned　to
  me；　and　extending　her　arm　and　spreading　out　her　five　fingers　wide；
  motioned　to　the　side　of　the　hill　in　the　direction　which　I　had　been
  following。
  〃If　I　go　that　way　shall　I　get　to　the　bridge　of　the　evil　man？〃　said
  I；　but　got　no　other　answer　than　a　furious　grimace　and　violent
  agitations　of　the　arm　and　fingers　in　the　same　direction。　　I　turned
  away；　and　scarcely　had　I　done　so　when　the　door　was　slammed　to
  behind　me　with　great　force；　and　I　heard　two　〃aughs；〃　one　not　quite
  so　deep　and　abhorrent　as　the　other；　probably　proceeding　from　the
  throat　of　the　younger　female。
  〃Two　regular　Saxon…hating　Welsh　women；〃　said　I；　philosophically；
  〃just　of　the　same　sort　no　doubt　as　those　who　played　such　pranks　on
  the　slain　bodies　of　the　English　soldiers；　after　the　victory
  achieved　by　Glendower　over　Mortimer　on　the　Severn's　side。〃
  I　proceeded　in　the　direction　indicated；　winding　round　the　side　of
  the　hill；　the　same　mountain　which　the　old　man　had　pointed　out　to　me
  some　time　before。　　At　length；　on　making　a　turn　I　saw　a　very　lofty
  mountain　in　the　far　distance　to　the　south…west；　a　hill　right　before
  me　to　the　south；　and；　on　my　left；　a　meadow　overhung　by　the　southern
  hill；　in　the　middle　of　which　stood　a　house　from　which　proceeded　a
  violent　barking　of　dogs。　　I　would　fain　have　made　immediately　up　to
  it　for　the　purpose　of　inquiring　my　way；　but　saw　no　means　of　doing
  so；　a　high　precipitous　bank　lying　between　it　and　me。　　I　went
  forward　and　ascended　the　side　of　the　hill　before　me；　and　presently
  came　to　a　path　running　east　and　west。　　I　followed　it　a　little　way
  towards　the　east。　　I　was　now　just　above　the　house；　and　saw　some
  children　and　some　dogs　standing　beside　it。　　Suddenly　I　found　myself
  close　to　a　man　who　stood　in　a　hollow　part　of　the　road；　from　which　a
  narrow　path　led　down　to　the　house；　a　donkey　with　panniers　stood
  beside　him。　　He　was　about　fifty　years　of　age；　with　a　carbuncled
  countenance；　high　but　narrow　forehead；　grey　eyebrows；　and　small；
  malignant　grey　eyes。　　He　had　a　white　hat；　with　narrow　eaves　and　the
  crown　partly　knocked　out；　a　torn　blue　coat；　corduroy　breeches；　long
  stockings　and　highlows。　　He　was　sucking　a　cutty　pipe；　but　seemed
  unable　to　extract　any　smoke　from　it。　　He　had　all　the　appearance　of
  a　vagabond；　and　of　a　rather　dangerous　vagabond。　　I　nodded　to　him；
  and　asked　him　in　Welsh　the　name　of　the　place。　　He　glared　at　me
  malignantly；　then；　taking　the　pipe　out　of　his　mouth；　said　that　he
  did　not　know；　that　he　had　been　down　below　to　inquire　and　light　his
  pipe；　but　could　get　neither　light　nor　answer　from　the　children。　　I
  asked　him　where　he　came　from；　but　he　evaded　the　question　by　asking
  where　I　was　going　to。
  〃To　the　Pont　y　Gwr　Drwg；〃　said　I。
  He　then　asked　me　if　I　was　an　Englishman。
  〃Oh　yes；〃　said　I；　〃I　am　Carn　Sais；〃　whereupon；　with　a　strange
  mixture　in　his　face　of　malignity　and　contempt；　he　answered　in
  English　that　he　didn't　understand　me。
  〃You　understood　me　very　well；〃　said　I；　without　changing　my
  language；　〃till　I　told　you　I　was　an　Englishman。　　Harkee；　man　with
  the　broken　hat；　you　are　one　of　the　bad　Welsh　who　don't　like　the
  English　to　know　the　language；　lest　they　should　discover　your　lies
  and　rogueries。〃　　He　evidently　understood　what　I　said；　for　he
  gnashed　his　teeth；　though　he　said　nothing。　　〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃I
  shall　go　down　to　those　children　and　inquire　the　name　of　the　house；〃
  and　I　forthwith　began　to　descend　the　path；　the　fellow　uttering　a
  contemptuous　〃humph〃　behind　me；　as　much　as　to　say；　〃Much　you'll
  make　out　down　there。〃　　I　soon　reached　the　bottom　and　advanced
  towards　the　house。　　The　dogs　had　all　along　been　barking　violently；
  as　I　drew　near　to　them；　however；　they　ceased；　and　two　of　the
  largest　came　forward　wagging　their　tails。　　〃The　dogs　were　not
  barking　at　me；〃　said　I；　〃but　at　that　vagabond　above。〃　　I　went　up　to
  the　children；　they　were　four　in　number；　two　boys　and　two　girls；　all
  red…haired；　but　tolerably　good…looking。　　They　had　neither　shoes　nor
  stockings。　　〃What　is　the　name　of　this　house？〃　said　I　to　the　eldest；
  a　boy　about　seven　years　old。　　He　looked　at　me；　but　made　no　answer。
  I　repeated　my　question；　still　there　was　no　answer；　but　methought　I
  heard　a　humph　of　triumph　from　the　hill。　　〃Don't　crow　quite　yet；　old
  chap；〃　thought　I　to　myself；　and　putting　my　hand　into　my　pocket；　I
  took　out　a　penny；　and　offering　it　to　the　child　said：　　〃Now；　small
  man；　Peth　yw　y　enw　y　lle　hwn？〃　　Instantly　the　boy's　face　became
  intelligent；　and　putting　out　a　fat　little　hand；　he　took　the　ceiniog
  and　said　in　an　audible　whisper；　〃Waen　y　Bwlch。〃　　〃I　am　all　right；〃
  said　I　to　myself；　〃that　is　one　of　the　names　of　the　places　which　the
  old　ostler　said　I　must　go　through。〃　　Then　addressing　myself　to　the
  child　I　said：　　〃Where's　your　father　and　mother？〃
  〃Out　on　the　hill；〃　whispered　the　child。
  〃What's　your　father？〃
  〃A　shepherd。〃
  〃Good；〃　said　I。　　〃Now　can　you　tell　me　the　way　to　the　bridge　of　the
  evil　man？〃　　But　the　features　became　blank；　the　finger　was　put　to
  the　mouth；　and　the　head　was　hung　down。　　That　question　was　evidently
  beyond　the　child's　capacity。　　〃Thank　you！〃　said　I；　and　turning
  round　I　regained　the　path　on　the　top　of　the　bank。　　The　fellow　and
  his　donkey　were　still　there。　　〃I　had　no　difficulty；〃　said　I；　〃in
  obtaining　information；　the　place's　name　is　Waen　y　Bwlch。　　But　oes
  genoch　dim　Cumraeg　…　you　have　no　Welsh。〃　　Thereupon　I　proceeded
  along　the　path　in　the　direction　of　the　east。　　Forthwith　the　fellow
  said　something　to　his　animal；　and　both　came　following　fast　behind。
  I　quickened　my　pace；　but　the　fellow　and　his　beast　were　close　in　my
  rear。　　Presently　I　came　to　a　place　where　another　path　branched　off
  to　the　south。　　I　stopped；　looked　at　it；　and　then　went　on；　but
  scarcely　had　done　so　when　I　heard　another　exulting　〃humph〃　behind。
  〃I　am　going　wrong；〃　said　I　to　myself；　〃that　other　path　is　the　way
  to　the　Devil's　Bridge；　and　the　scamp　knows　it　or　he　would　not　have
  grunted。〃　　Forthwith　I　faced　round；　and　brushing　past　the　fellow
  without　a　word　turned　into　the　other　path　and　hurried　along　it。　　By
  a　side　glance　which　I　cast　I　could　see　him　staring　after　me；
  presently；　however；　he　uttered　a　sound　very　much　like　a　Welsh
  curse；　and；　kicking　his　beast；　proceeded　on　his　way；　and　I　saw　no
  more　of　him。　　In　a　little　time　I　came　to　a　slough　which　crossed　the
  path。　　I　did　not　like　the　look　of　it　at　all；　and　to　avoid　it
  ventured　upon　some　green　mossy…looking　ground　to　the　left；　and　had
  scarcely　done　so　when　I　found　myself　immersed　to　the　knees　in　a
  bog。　　I；　however；　pushed　forward；　and　with　some　difficulty　got　to
  the　path　on　the　other　side　of　the　slough。　　I　followed　the　path；　and
  in　about　half…an…hour　saw　what　appeared　to　be　houses　at　a　distance。
  〃God　grant　that　I　maybe　drawing　near　some　inhabited　place！〃　said　I。
  The　path　now　grew　very　miry；　and　there　were　pools　of　water　on
  either　side。　　I　moved　along　slowly。　　At　length　I　came　to　a　place
  where　some　men　were　busy　in　erecting　a　kind　of　building。　　I　went　up
  to　the　nearest　and　asked　him　the　name　of　the　place。　　He　had　a
  crowbar　in　his　hand；　was　half　naked；　had　a　wry　mouth　and　only　one
  eye。　　He　made　me　no　answer；　but　mowed　and　gibbered　at　me。
  〃For　God's　sake；〃　said　I；　〃don't　do　so；　but　tell　me　where　I　am！〃
  He　still　uttered　no　word；　but　mowed　and　gibbered　yet　more
  frightfully　than　before。　　As　I　stood　staring　at　him　another　man
  came　to　me　and　said　in　broken　English：　　〃It　is　of　no　use　speaking
  to　him；　sir；　he　is　deaf　and　dumb。〃
  〃I　am　glad　he　is　no　worse；〃　said　I；　〃for　I　really　thought　he　was
  possessed　with　the　evil　one。　　My　good　person；　can　you　tell　me　the
  name　of　this　place？〃
  〃Esgyrn　Hirion；　sir；〃　said　he。
  〃Esgyrn　Hirion；〃　said　I　to　myself；　〃Esgyrn　means　'bones；'　and
  Hirion　means　'long。'　　I　am　doubtless　at　the　place　which　the　old
  ostler　called　Long　Bones。　　I　shouldn't　wonder　if　I　get　to　the
  Devil's　Bridge　to…night　after　all。〃　　I　then　asked　the　man　if　he
  could　tell　me　the　way　to　the　bridge　of　the　evil　man；　but　he　shook
  his　head　and　said　that　he　had　never　heard　of　such　a　place；　adding；
  however；　that　he　would　go　with　me　to　one　of　the　overseers；　who
  could　perhaps　direct　me。　　He　then　proceeded　towards　a　row　of
  buildings；　which　were；　in　fact；　those　objects　which　I　had　guessed
  to　be　houses　in　the　distance。　　He　led　me　to　a　corner　house；　at　the
  door　of　which　stood　a　middle…aged　man；　dressed　in　a　grey　coat；　and
  saying　to　me；　〃This　person　is　an　overseer；〃　returned　to　his　labour。
  I　went　up　to　the　man；　and；　saluting　him　in　English；　asked　whet