266 ^KeslBtck district 



adventurers who stood on the highest ridge. He was so 

 accurate an observer that his descriptions of unfrequented 

 and unalterable places will never be antiquated. 'From 

 Linthwaite Pike/ he says, ' on soft green turf, we descend 

 steeply, first southward, and then in an easterly direction to 

 the tarn, — a beautiful circular piece of transparent water, 

 with a well-defined shore. Here we found ourselves en- 

 gulphed in a basin of steeps, having Tarn Crag on the north, 

 and rocks falling from Sf)atp lEbge on the east, and on the 

 west, the soft turf on which we made our downward pro- 

 gress. These side-grounds, in pleasant grassy banks, verge 

 to the stream issuing from the lake, whence there is a charm- 

 ing opening to the town of Penrith ; and Cross Fell is seen in 

 the extreme distance. Wishing to vary our line in returning 

 to the place we had left, we cross the stream, and commence 

 a steep ascent at the foot of Sharp Edge. We had not gone 

 far before we were aware that our journey would be attended 

 with perils ; the passage gradually grew narrower, and the 

 declivity on each hand awfully precipitous. From walking 

 erect, we were reduced to the necessity either of bestriding 

 the ridge or of moving on one of its sides, with our hands 

 lying over the top, as a security against falling into the tarn 

 on the left, or into a frightful gully on the right, — both of 

 immense depth. Sometimes we thought it prudent to return, 

 but that seemed unmanly, and we proceeded ; thinking with 

 Shakspeare that " dangers retreat when boldly they're con- 

 fronted»'' Mr. Otley was their leader, who, on gaining steady 

 footing, looked back on the writer, whom he perceived 

 viewing at leisure from his saddle the remainder of his up- 

 ward course.' On better ground they had a retrospect of 

 Sharp Edge, — which is the narrowest ridge on Saddleback, 

 or any other north-of-England mountain. In places, it is 

 composed of loose stones and earth ; and, the stepping on 



