THE FERNY MOORLANDS. 65 



varying moorland scenery in the vista between. 

 Hills some densely wooded, others bare and 

 wild interlace their tops in a symmetrical net- 

 work, which stretches away until dimly defined 

 in the far-off distance. On the right, in varying 

 terraces which rise towards the sky, is a mixed 

 landscape of meadow and hedge and tree. Down 

 far beneath, rushing along under a dark over- 

 growth of trees, roar the waters of the Teign, 

 just seen away to the left, where a break in the 

 canopy of overhanging trees reveals the dark and 

 foaming current. 



Winding round and round to lighten the rough- 

 ness and steepness of the descent, the path at 

 length reaches the extreme point of the valley, 

 and crossing a swift, dark mill-stream, that runs 

 for a short distance parallel with the Teign, 

 emerges on to Fingle Bridge. This spot is, 

 indeed, a chosen land of ferns. To the right 

 and to the left, away from the arches of the 

 bridge, the Teign brawls over and between the 

 granite boulders which are strewn in its bed : 

 now sparkling in pebbly shallows, now deepen- 



5 



