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and fitful, though the " pink-eyed pimpernel " was observed fully expanded. 

 even while scuds of rain and vapour swept furiously over the landscape, and 

 was pronounced a gay deceiver. 



With some difiSculty, the mountain base was reached, and by a path across 

 its shoulder, the opposite side was gained ; and here, from the cliffs of sandstone 

 having broken down and spread widely over the declivity, a singular wOd and 

 subalpine scene comes before the eye, which, under the influence of a gloomy sky, 

 and the inky clouds that covered the crest of the Sugar-Loaf mountain opposite, 

 had the appearance of a rocky wilderness amidst impervious fastnesses. Over 

 this broken ground, various ferns and mosses spring up, while tabular and broken 

 rocks that have fallen from the precipices above are dispersed irregularly around. 

 By a steep natural flight of stairs the crest of the ridge was at length gained, 

 where some remnants of an oratory appear ; but the boisterous wind and driving 

 scud rendered it unpleasant to remain here long, and the extensive mountainous 

 views could be only seen in partial snatches, though a sunny gleam rested upon 

 Abergavenny and the \'alley of the Usk. 



The party now descended into the Gap, a great hollow intervening between 

 the great mass of the Scyrryd and a wooded fragment (itself a good-sized hill) 

 that at some former period has, by a landslip, broken away from the parent 

 mass, and now, like a cub, reposes at the foot of its mother. 



Here it had been announced that an acceptable lunch would be in readiness 

 and Mr. E. Y. Steele, the kind-hearted founder of the intended feast, had spoken 

 in praise of exquisite old cider that he had selected from the recesses of his cellar, 

 and which was believed would prove to have had a body within it. The natura- 

 lists, weary and thirsty after their assault of the hill, had pressed forward rather 

 impatiently towards the siderial region ; but, alas — 



The best laid schemes o' mice and men 

 Gang aft agley ; 

 and after no little delay, and considerable anxiety, it was announced that some 

 mistake must have occurred, or the supplies had been intercepted. 



As a last resource, to give the commissariat a chance to come up, Dr. Bevan 

 mounted a rock by the side of the President, Mr. Lightbody, and delivered an 

 instructive lecture on the iron ores present in almost every geological formation, 

 and stated the amount of iron contained in each ore. This was received with 

 applause ; and the company having again " sighed and looked," but without 

 avail, gave up the lunch and the cider in despair, and turned their steps towards 

 Llanfihangel, which, after threading some deep and miry watery lanes, they at 

 last reached about 4 o'clock. Here a quarry containing many interesting 

 specimens of Old Red fossils rewarded the hopes of the geologists, and several 

 good captures were made. 



The party dined at Abergavenny. 



