64 THE ADVENTURES 



the human race, we cannot wonder that our 

 friends are so anxious to shake off their acquaint- 

 ance. And this they will probably succeed in 

 doing before they are far past the princely do- 

 main of Eaton. 



It would be far too tedious a task to follow 

 them through all their long and devious journey ; 

 we will, therefore, precede them a few miles, 

 leaving them to follow the tortuous course of the 

 winding river, while we take a hasty look at the 

 principal difficulties which still intervene between 

 themselves and their ultimate destination. 



The first occurs immediately above Overton 

 Bridge, in Flintshire by land, a distance of 

 fifteen miles from Chester ; but by the river " by'r 

 lady ! " more likely sixty. 



And here, let us observe, how entirely the 

 character of the river has again changed, since 

 we left it at Chester. No longer a deep channel 

 confined between two equal banks, flowing evenly 

 and gently on with a current so slow and equable 

 that the minute hand of St. Paul's clock might 

 almost be as easily detected in its progress ; on 

 the contrary, it has now become a series of 

 streams and pools, wandering from side to side 

 of its channel ; now fretting and chafing through 

 straitened rocky passages, or rippling gently 

 over a wide-spread gravel bed ; sometimes hurry- 



