282 A HOT DAY. [1878. 



to the fatigue, there being no shelter. Still, as he had 

 come upon evidence of a raised beach on the hill be- 

 tween Full Bay and Rh6s Sili, and of a large bed of 

 Drift, he would not hear of fatigue or exhaustion. 

 When hour after hour had passed, and his wife urged 

 that the heat was hardly endurable, and that although 

 there was " water, water everywhere, yet not a drop 

 to drink," he only applied himself harder to work, 

 with the old answer, " Now or never," and climbing up 

 the beach as if on springs, set to dig out specimens of 

 it and of the Drift to carry to Oxford. His exertions 

 in that fierce glow seemed superhuman. 



They reached Rhos Sili when the shades of even had 

 gathered, the horse almost as exhausted as the two 

 tourists. Entering the lodging engaged, Mrs Prest- 

 wich's first petition was for water or something to 

 quench their thirst. " Please, some soda water, and 

 quick ! " 



To the puzzled landlady, it was explained with a 

 gesture that it was water that fizzed up. 



" Ah, ma'am, you will be meaning pop ? " 



"Yes, pop, but please quick, quick! 1 ' 



The landlady hereupon sent to the " Ship " for 

 " pop," but owing to the heat it had all been sold out. 



" We shall be so thankful to have something to eat 

 we have had no dinner." 



" Dinner, ma'am and what have you brought ? " 



" Nothing, we have brought nothing." 



" Every one brings their victuals here, ma'am." 



It was a poor look-out, no meat in the village and 

 one egg in the cottage ! The worthy landlady did her 

 best ; tea and eggs were forthcoming, but as it proved 

 afterwards, two days upon this fare did not suit our 

 geologist to work upon, while making very unusual 



