148 RAMBLE OVER DERBYSHIRE HILLS AND DALES. 
horror” comes to mind, how a lover and his lady fair were foully 
murdered near this spot whereon we stand. We rested while a 
view was taken, and again, further up the defile, hemmed in by 
mountains on every side, we took another ; but never will any of 
us forget our journey up the Winnats—and yet this was once the 
coach road ! 
We got over the ground much quicker after we reached the top 
of the pass, and three miles further on we came to Perryfoot, 
where the stream that runs through Peak Cavern is engulphed. 
These szwal/ows, as they are called, are very numerous in the Peak 
of Derbyshire. Eldon Hole, on our left, was passed about a mile 
further back, but we had neither time nor inclination to visit 
either it or the ebbing and flowing well, for we wanted to get on 
to Peak Forest, another three miles, where we intended to pass 
the night. 
Nothing of note occurred on our walk round by Sparrow Pit to 
Peak Forest ; the shades of evening were closing over us rapidly, 
and we hailed the appearance of the village with delight. Our 
appearance seemed to afford unlimited pleasure and curiosity to 
the young Peakrels, who evidently took us for travelling showmen 
or tumblers, or somebodies of that ilk. The village seemed all 
alive ; what could be the matter ? We soon learned to our sorrow, 
for on enquiring for beds at the first inn we came to, we were told 
that it was the eve of the wakes, and that there was no room for 
us. Here was a pretty state of affairs! We tried all three of the 
inns, and we tried their beer, but they would none of them let us try 
their beds ; we were told, however, that a quarter-of a-mile further 
on there was an inn at Mount Pleasant where we should most likely 
get accommodated. After at least half-a-mile’s walk all up-hill, in 
the dark, we saw a gloomy building looming before us—and this 
was Mount Pleasant !—it was not a pleasant mount for us at any 
rate! Now for something to eat, and then to bed, that “ heaven 
on earth for a weary head,” and legs and back too, Thomas Hood. 
We are not quite sure if the house has not itself retired to rest, all 
looks very dark. No, there is a light under the door, and in we 
go. A damsel receives us, and on enquiry, says we can have 
