DEVON LANES AND THEIR ASSOCIATIONS. 9 



the Exe and the sea. In the outskirts of Topsham to the 

 lanes which ramify from there into the country, were noticed 

 on several wintry mornings mysterious footsteps over the virgin 

 snow, having great affinity (so the natives affirmed) to the 

 cloven hoofs popularly assigned to a certain nameless per- 

 sonage. These tracks advanced steadily without any apparent 

 divarication, walking over roofs, walls, and other obstacles that 

 might reasonably be supposed capable of baffling a hoaxer. 

 The story quickly spread to the London papers, and all kinds 

 of guesses were made respecting the footprints. Some ascribed 

 them to natural causes, such as the visit of a large wild-fowl, 

 &c., but found small favour with the country-side for their 

 trouble. The mystery was never satisfactorily cleared up. 

 Long after most people, however, had forgotten the whole 

 occurrence, the neighbouring peasants did not dare to stir 

 from their hearths after nightfall. 



Often as we have threaded Devon lanes after sunset, we 

 cannot testify to having seen anything more fearsome than bats 

 or owls. They are full of beauty (as well as mud) even in 

 winter. Here a delicate snow-wreath glitters in the moonlight, 

 waiting for sunrise to lend its pink and amber flushes, the 

 death-tints of the graceful folds. There a deep recess in the 

 bank bristles with icicle spears, as if determined that summer 

 shall never more hang fondly over the ferny treasures within. 

 The old trees sigh overhead as their last leaf flutters to the 

 ground ; and now a deeper plunge than usual into the quag- 

 mire recalls us to the sterner realities of life. We were fast 

 nearing some enchanted land of fancy, and lo ! we find our- 

 selves ankle-deep in mud ! 



Pluck up courage, and press on through the wintry lanes a 

 little further. The faint chimes of St. Mary's at distant Ottery 

 are flinging their Christmas greeting over many a mile of moor- 

 land. We are passing the old " cob " walls and grey-headed 

 barns of a substantial farmstead. The cocks will crow here all 



