CHAPTER V. 



" Where tlie water is pouring for ever she sits, 

 And beside her the ousel and kingfisher flits ; 

 There, supreme in her beauty, beside the full urn, 

 In the shade of the rock, stands the tall Lady-Fern." 



E set ourselves one day to follow the course of 

 the mountain stream from its junction with 

 the Swale to its source in the moors. It was a 

 difficult undertaking. Sometimes the rocks overhung 

 the margin, and were so steep and high that it was im- 

 possible to climb over them ; then our only means of 

 progress was found by springing from boulder to boulder, 

 and gaining the other side of the stream, and keeping 

 along that bank until a patch of entangled brushwood 

 interlaced with briars again stopped up our road, and 

 we must recross, and pursue the side first chosen until 

 again interrupted. Presently we came to where an accom- 

 modation road crossed the brook, 

 by means of a bridge thrown from 

 rock to rock. The archway formed 

 the frame of a wild picture of rock, 

 and waterfall, and drooping trees, 

 with such a wealth of golden 

 flitting lights, and deep shadows, 

 cystopteris. as might have formed a rare prize 



for any artist. We passed under it, and from the sides 



