BLEA TARN AND THE RECLUSE. 227 



PISCATOK. In a scene like this, conversation 

 is hardly necessary; and I have had nothing 

 special to point out till now. That pretty 

 waterfall, or rather succession of falls, marks the 

 direction of Stickle Tarn, up under the pikes ; 

 and a little to the left is Dungeon Ghyll Force. 

 We are fast approaching the last house in the 

 dale ; there we shall have to ascend and make a 

 detour by Blea Tarn, over Wrynose, and Cock- 

 ley-beck, on the Duddon, where our angling 

 may commence. We are getting into a cooler 

 air, and may hasten our pace. You will now 

 have a better view of Blea Tarn, and the wild 

 little mountain valley, with its single farm- 

 house, the imagined scene of the Eecluse of the 

 Poet, than when you passed it before lower 

 down. Do observe it well. 



AMICUS. We get on rapidly, notwithstanding 

 the steepness of the way. That must be 

 Cockley-beck ; I cannot forget it. There is 

 the single arched primitive bridge over the 

 mountain stream, and there the solitary cottage 

 with its two or three companion sycamores 

 pleasantly shading it, though hardly yet in 

 leaf. What a wild ride we have had over these 

 Q 2 



