234 ROUND THE YEAR 



lake : a like easy descent would have led us to the 

 edge of the lake, round which there appeared a broad 

 green walk ; but our leader informing us of the danger 

 of passing that slippery path, we did not proceed. 

 We now contemplated the scene with awstruck- 

 wonder. We stood directly facing the middle of the 

 mountain, the form of which gives it the name of 

 SADDLEBACK : and to the lake, a perpendicular rocky 

 precipice presented itself, extending to the north-east 

 side of the mountain, called Foul-cragg. To the right 

 hand, the steepness of the rocks gradually declined ; 

 above us, and on the left, they were stupendous and 

 perpendicular ; so that in one half of the circle the 

 rocks were lofty and precipitous, whilst in the other 

 half they gradually decreased. My fellow traveller 

 would proceed no further, and with my guide I was 

 left to explore the other parts of the mountain. 

 Winding round, and keeping the cavity on our right, 

 we attained the ridge or ' summit of the rock, where 

 we found a passage three or four yards broad : on the 

 right, the descent to the lake looked truly awful, 

 whilst the steep rocks on the other side were lofty, 

 and not to be climbed by human steps. This passage, 

 some hundred yards in length, may be compared to a 

 bridge covered with grass. Having reached the 

 summit, we went to the point nearest to Keswick 

 vale, and there enjoyed a most delightful prospect ; 

 from thence we passed to the next point, being Foul- 

 cragg, with Skiddaw on the left ; from whence we 

 looked down into a dreadful abyss, the bottom of 

 which the eye could not penetrate : sheep frequently 

 perish in this place, as the number of dead carcasses 



