THE FEKN PARADISE. 



are seen the wild moorlands stretching away far 

 over the country. There the lovely Dart takes 

 its rise, expanding its tiny stream as it moves 

 onward, until, swollen to a torrent, it roars 

 through deep ravines, foams over rocks and boul- 

 ders, and still coming on ! on ! by wood-crowned 

 heights and smiling upland meadows, it rolls into 

 sight. Everywhere too, as far as the eye can 

 reach, there is a thick network of green lanes, 

 giving a marvellous aspect of diversity to the 

 whole scene. 



Two or three steps from the brow of the hill 

 whence this noble prospect is obtained, a turning 

 round to the right will lead back to the town, 

 through a lane which is indeed a veritable para- 

 dise of Ferns. The narrow pathway winds down- 

 wards for a full mile between two tall hedges, 

 whose topmost branches here and there meet 

 overhead, forming a natural archway, so densely 

 interwoven in some places as almost to exclude 

 the daylight; now widening sufficiently to form 

 a delightful green vista, now narrowing until the 

 hedges on each side almost meet, and there is 

 only sufficient room for the tourist to brush 



86 



