FOEDINGBUIDGE TO BRAMSHAW. 127 



ness of the cultivated uplands where, on the 

 upland pastures, the picturesque forms of cattle 

 red, black, white and mottled are strongly shown 

 as the sun shines upon them. Once more ascend- 

 ing to a point of rising ground we can see, away 

 across the forest towards the south-east, the dis- 

 tant housetops of Southampton thrown out in 

 relief against the wooded country beyond. We 

 are now following a road which runs directly to- 

 wards Southampton, but we presently reach a 

 four-cross way and take the left turning towards 

 Bramshaw, our compass pointing, as we enter it, to 

 the east. 



We now go down hill between woods on either 

 hand between Oak and Beech and Holly forming 

 thickly- wooded forest on both sides of us, bordered 

 by reddening Brake and empurpling Heather. 

 The walk is impressively beautiful, for everything 

 around us is quiet and we do not meet a solitary 

 wayfarer. No sound comes to us, even from the 

 forest, for the sun is sinking below the horizon and 

 the birds are silent. The stillness, broken only by 

 our own footsteps, is delicious. Fatigued by a 

 long walk across the moorlands, we seem, momen- 



