218 LICHENS. 



as the men drew it off into the prepared mould, while 

 the refuse or " slay" rolled away in a crackling stream of 

 livid fire, smoking and growing black as it cooled in the 

 comparatively cold air of the mid-summer atmosphere. 

 All this we watched with dutiful observation. We had 

 come to see the process of smelting lead, and we must 

 make the best of our opportunities ; but when we had done 

 our duty, and received specimens of the ore, we proceeded 

 onwards to find a place beyond the sound of the mill, where 

 we might gain shade and water, and a snug place to eat 

 our luncheon. 



But this desire was not so easy of attainment. All 

 the rocks forming the back bone and ribs of those exten- 

 sive moors are traversed with veins of lead ore, and the 

 farther we went the more wholly did we seem lost among 

 brown moor and grey crag, the only variation being the 

 chimneys which ever and anon indicated that a branch of 

 the numerous mines was excavated underneath. In time, 

 however, the banks of the little stream to our left grew 

 deeper and deeper, and we descended and followed its 

 course. 



" Hey the green ribbon ; we kneeled beside it, 

 We parted the grasses dewy and sheen ; 

 Drop over drop there filtered and slided 

 A tiny bright beak that glittered between. 



" Tinkle, tinkle, sweetly it sung to us, 



Light was our talk as of faery bells — 

 Faery wedding bells sweetly rung to us 

 Down in their fortunate parallels." 



Onward we went, till we came to one of the loveliest 

 nooks I have ever beheld. Our tiny brook must have 



