he。
  〃No　great　compliment；〃　thought　I　to　myself；　but　putting　a　good　face
  upon　the　matter　I　told　him　that　I　knew　a　great　many　old　Welsh
  words。
  〃Is　Potosi　an　old　Welsh　word？〃　said　he。
  〃No；〃　said　I；　〃it　is　the　name　of　a　mine　in　the　Deheubarth　of
  America。〃
  〃Is　it　a　lead　mine？〃
  〃No！〃　said　I；　〃it　is　a　silver　mine。〃
  〃Then　why　do　they　call　our　mine；　which　is　a　lead　mine；　by　the　name
  of　a　silver　mine？〃
  〃Because　they　wish　to　give　people　to　understand；〃　said　I；　〃that　it
  is　very　rich　…　as　rich　in　lead　as　Potosi　in　silver。　　Potosi　is；　or
  was；　the　richest　silver　mine　in　the　world；　and　from　it　has　come　at
  least　one　half　of　the　silver　which　we　use　in　the　shape　of　money　and
  other　things。〃
  〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　frequently　asked；　but　could　never　learn
  before　why　our　mine　was　called　Potosi。〃
  〃You　did　not　ask　at　the　right　quarter；〃　said　I；　〃the　young　man　with
  the　glazed　hat　could　have　told　you　as　well　as　I。〃　　I　inquired　why
  the　place　where　the　mine　was　bore　the　name　of　Esgyrn　Hirion　or　Long
  Bones。　　He　told　me　that　he　did　not　know；　but　believed　that　the
  bones　of　a　cawr　or　giant　had　been　found　there　in　ancient　times。　　I
  asked　him　if　the　mine　was　deep。
  〃Very　deep；〃　he　replied。
  〃Do　you　like　the　life　of　a　miner？〃　said　I。
  〃Very　much；〃　said　he；　〃and　should　like　it　more；　but　for　the　noises
  of　the　hill。〃
  〃Do　you　mean　the　powder　blasts？〃　said　I。
  〃Oh　no！〃　said　he；　〃I　care　nothing　for　them；　I　mean　the　noises　made
  by　the　spirits　of　the　hill　in　the　mine。　　Sometimes　they　make　such
  noises　as　frighten　the　poor　fellow　who　works　underground　out　of　his
  senses。　　Once　on　a　time　I　was　working　by　myself　very　deep
  underground；　in　a　little　chamber　to　which　a　very　deep　shaft　led。　　I
  had　just　taken　up　my　light　to　survey　my　work；　when　all　of　a　sudden
  I　heard　a　dreadful　rushing　noise；　as　if　an　immense　quantity　of
  earth　had　come　tumbling　down。　　'Oh　God！'　said　I；　and　fell
  backwards；　letting　the　light　fall；　which　instantly　went　out。　　I
  thought　the　whole　shaft　had　given　way；　and　that　I　was　buried　alive。
  I　lay　for　several　hours　half　stupefied；　thinking　now　and　then　what
  a　dreadful　thing　it　was　to　be　buried　alive。　　At　length　I　thought　I
  would　get　up；　go　to　the　mouth　of　the　shaft；　feel　the　mould；　with
  which　it　was　choked　up；　and　then　come　back；　lie　down；　and　die。　　So
  I　got　up　and　tottered　to　the　mouth　of　the　shaft；　put　out　my　hand
  and　felt　…　nothing；　all　was　clear。　　I　went　forward；　and　presently
  felt　the　ladder。　　Nothing　had　fallen；　all　was　just　the　same　as　when
  I　came　down。　　I　was　dreadfully　afraid　that　I　should　never　be　able
  to　get　up　in　the　dark　without　breaking　my　neck；　however；　I　tried；
  and　at　last；　with　a　great　deal　of　toil　and　danger；　got　to　a　place
  where　other　men　were　working。　　The　noise　was　caused　by　the　spirits
  of　the　hill　in　the　hope　of　driving　the　miner　out　of　his　senses。
  They　very　nearly　succeeded。　　I　shall　never　forget　how　I　felt　when　I
  thought　I　was　buried　alive。　　If　it　were　not　for　those　noises　in　the
  hill；　the　life　of　a　miner　would　be　quite　heaven　below。〃
  We　came　to　a　cottage　standing　under　a　hillock；　down　the　side　of
  which　tumbled　a　streamlet　close　by　the　northern　side　of　the
  building。　　The　door　was　open；　and　inside　were　two　or　three　females
  and　some　children。　　〃Have　you　any　enwyn？〃　said　the　lad；　peeping　in。
  〃Oh　yes！〃　said　a　voice　…　〃digon！　digon！〃　　Presently　a　buxom；
  laughing　girl　brought　out　two　dishes　of　buttermilk；　one　of　which
  she　handed　to　me　and　the　other　to　the　guide。　　I　asked　her　the　name
  of　the　place。
  〃Gwen　Frwd　…　the　'Fair　Rivulet；'〃　said　she。
  〃Who　lives　here？〃
  〃A　shepherd。〃
  〃Have　you　any　English？〃
  〃Nagos！〃　said　she；　bursting　into　a　loud　laugh。　　〃What　should　we　do
  with　English　here？〃　After　we　had　drunk　the　buttermilk　I　offered　the
  girl　some　money；　but　she　drew　back　her　hand　angrily；　and　said：　　〃We
  don't　take　money　from　tired　strangers　for　two　drops　of　buttermilk；
  there's　plenty　within；　and　there　are　a　thousand　ewes　on　the　hill。
  Farvel！〃
  〃Dear　me！〃　thought　I　to　myself　as　I　walked　away；　〃that　I　should
  once　in　my　days　have　found　shepherd　life　something　as　poets　have
  represented　it！〃
  I　saw　a　mighty　mountain　at　a　considerable　distance　on　the　right；
  the　same　I　believe　which　I　had　noted　some　hours　before。　　I　inquired
  of　my　guide　whether　it　was　Plynlimmon。
  〃Oh　no！〃　said　he；　〃that　is　Gaverse；　Pumlimmon　is　to　the　left。〃
  〃Plynlimmon　is　a　famed　hill；〃　said　I；　〃I　suppose　it　is　very　high。〃
  〃Yes！〃　said　he；　〃it　is　high；　but　it　is　not　famed　because　it　is
  high；　but　because　the　three　grand　rivers　of　the　world　issue　from
  its　breast；　the　Hafren；　the　Rheidol；　and　the　Gwy。〃
  Night　was　now　coming　rapidly　on；　attended　with　a　drizzling　rain。　　I
  inquired　if　we　were　far　from　Pont　Erwyd。　　〃About　a　mile；〃　said　my
  guide；　〃we　shall　soon　be　there。〃　　We　quickened　our　pace。　　After　a
  little　time　he　asked　me　if　I　was　going　farther　than　Pont　Erwyd。
  〃I　am　bound　for　the　bridge　of　the　evil　man；〃　said　I；　〃but　I　daresay
  I　shall　stop　at　Pont　Erwyd　to…night。〃
  〃You　will　do　right；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　only　three　miles　from　Pont
  Erwyd　to　the　bridge　of　the　evil　man；　but　I　think　we　shall　have　a
  stormy　night。〃
  〃When　I　get　to　Pont　Erwyd；〃　said　I；　〃how　far　shall　I　be　from　South
  Wales？〃
  〃From　South　Wales！〃　said　he；　〃you　are　in　South　Wales　now；　you
  passed　the　Terfyn　of　North　Wales　a　quarter　of　an　hour　ago。〃
  The　rain　now　fell　fast　and　there　was　so　thick　a　mist　that　I　could
  only　see　a　few　yards　before　me。　　We　descended　into　a　valley；　at　the
  bottom　of　which　I　heard　a　river　roaring。
  〃That's　the　Rheidol；〃　said　my　guide；　〃coming　from　Pumlimmon；
  swollen　with　rain。〃
  Without　descending　to　the　river；　we　turned　aside　up　a　hill；　and；
  after　passing　by　a　few　huts；　came　to　a　large　house；　which　my　guide
  told　me　was　the　inn　of　Pont　Erwyd。
  CHAPTER　LXXXII
  Consequential　Landlord　…　Cheek　…　Darfel　Gatherel　…　Dafydd　Nanmor　…
  Sheep　Farms　…　Wholesome　Advice　…　The　Old　Postman　…　The　Plant　de　Bat
  …　The　Robber's　Cavern。
  MY　guide　went　to　a　side　door；　and　opening　it　without　ceremony　went
  in。　　I　followed　and　found　myself　in　a　spacious　and　comfortable…
  looking　kitchen：　　a　large　fire　blazed　in　a　huge　grate；　on　one　side
  of　which　was　a　settle；　plenty　of　culinary　utensils；　both　pewter　and
  copper；　hung　around　on　the　walls；　and　several　goodly　rows　of　hams
  and　sides　of　bacon　were　suspended　from　the　roof。　　There　were
  several　people　present；　some　on　the　settle　and　others　on　chairs　in
  the　vicinity　of　the　fire。　　As　I　advanced；　a　man　arose　from　a　chair
  and　came　towards　me。　　He　was　about　thirty…five　years　of　age；　well
  and　strongly　made；　with　a　fresh　complexion；　a　hawk　nose；　and　a　keen
  grey　eye。　　He　wore　top…boots　and　breeches；　a　half　jockey　coat；　and
  had　a　round　cap　made　of　the　skin　of　some　animal　on　his　head。
  〃Servant；　sir！〃　said　he　in　rather　a　sharp　tone；　and　surveying　me
  with　something　of　a　supercilious　air。
  〃Your　most　obedient　humble　servant！〃　said　I；　〃I　presume　you　are　the
  landlord　of　this　house。〃
  〃Landlord！〃　said　he；　〃landlord！　　It　is　true　I　receive　guests
  sometimes　into　my　house；　but　I　do　so　solely　with　the　view　of
  accommodating　them；　I　do　not　depend　upon　innkeeping　for　a
  livelihood。　　I　hire　the　principal　part　of　the　land　in　this
  neighbourhood。〃
  〃If　that　be　the　case；〃　said　I；　〃I　had　better　continue　my　way　to　the
  Devil's　Bridge；　I　am　not　at　all　tired；　and　I　believe　it　is　not　very
  far　distant。〃
  〃Oh；　as　you　are　here；〃　said　the　farmer…landlord；　〃I　hope　you　will
  stay。　　I　should　be　very　sorry　if　any　gentleman　should　leave　my
  house　at　night　after　coming　with　an　intention　of　staying；　more
  especially　in　a　night　like　this。　　Martha！〃　said　he；　turning　to　a
  female　between　thirty　and　forty　…　who　I　subsequently　learned　was
  the　mistress　…　〃prepare　the　parlour　instantly　for　this　gentleman；
  and　don't　fail　to　make　up　a　good　fire。〃
  Martha　forthwith　hurried　away；　attended　by　a　much　younger　female。
  〃Till　your　room　is　prepared；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃perhaps　you　will　have
  no　objection　to　sit　down　before　our　fire？〃
  〃Not　the　least；〃　said　I；　〃nothing　gives　me　greater　pleasure　than　to
  sit　before　a　kitchen　fire。　　First　of　all；　however；　I　must　settle
  with　my　guide；　and　likewise　see　that　he　has　something　to　eat　and
  drink。〃
  〃Shall　I　interpret　for　you？〃　said　the　landlord；　〃the　lad　has　not　a
  word　of　English；　I　know　him　well。〃
  〃I　have　not　been　under　his　guidance　for　the　last　three　hours；〃　said
  I；　〃without　knowing　that　he　cannot　speak　English；　but　I　want　no
  interpreter。〃
  〃You　do　not　mean　to　say；　sir；〃　said　the　landlord；　with　a　surprised
  and　dissatisfied　air；　〃that　you　understand　Welsh？〃
  I　made　no　answer；　but　turning　to　the　guide　thanked　him　for　his
  kindness；　and　giving　him　some　money　asked　him　if　it　was　enough。
  〃More　than　enough；　sir；〃　said　the　lad；　〃I　did　not　expect　half　as
  much。　　Farewell！〃
  He　was　then　about　to　depart；　but　I　prevented　him　saying：
  〃You　must　not　go　till　you　have　eaten　and　drunk。　　What　will　you
  have？〃
  〃Merely　a　cup　of　ale；　sir；〃　said　the　lad。
  〃That　won't　do；〃　said　I；　〃you　shall　have　bread　and　cheese　and　as
  much　ale　as　you　can　drink。　　Pray；〃　said　I　to　the　landlord；　〃let
  this　young　man　have　some　bread　a