160  PRECIPITOUS WALKS. 



scious security in places where a false step would 

 plunge tliem lieadlong. But in other parts, and 

 especially on the side that overlooks the little cove of 

 Wildersmouth, the sides are awfully perpendicular 

 and even projecting, and the hroad faces of the grey 

 rock are here particularly majestic and picturesque. 

 With considerahle lahour, availing itself skilfully of 

 the natural facilities of the rock, a broad road has been 

 scarped round the seaward-side of the hill, extending 

 from the hack of "Wildersmouth round to the eastern 

 extremity, and sending off branch roads in zigzag 

 directions, by which the lofty summit may be gained. 

 To a new-comer these tracks seem not a little dan- 

 gerous, for though they are guarded by low parapets 

 here and there, they are everywhere so steep, often so 

 slippery, and in some points approach so close to the 

 yawning edge of the perpendicular precipice, that the 

 blood beats with a quickened energy as we ascend, 

 especially if we are accompanied by children. But a 

 few weeks' residence rubs ofl' the edge of this sensi- 

 tiveness, and we wonder after a little while that we 

 could have associated danger with what appears so 

 commonplace a matter. 



But no frequency of repetition avails to prevent our 

 appreciation of the beauty and interest of this charm- 

 ing promenade. The crowds of persons who frequent 

 it sufficiently proclaim its power to please. On a 

 beautiful summer evening we may see the visitors not 

 only thronging the walks, and filling the comfortable 

 seats that have been let in so numerously into the 

 solid rock, but studding the steep sides from the 

 summit to the water's edge, on ledges, and points, and 



