Vapors. 29 



so that the basin may be called a dew-pond. The 

 mists that hang about the ridges are often almost 

 as laden with moisture as a rain-cloud itself. They 

 deposit a thick layer of tiny bead-like drops upon 

 the coat of the wayfarer, which seem to cling after 

 the manner of oil. Though these hills have not the 

 faintest pretensions to be compared with mountains, 

 3-et when the rainy clouds hang low they often strike 

 the higher ridges, which from a distance appear 

 blotted out entirely, and are then receiving a misty 

 shower. 



Then there rise up sometimes thick masses of va- 

 por which during the night have gathered over the 

 brooks and water-meadows, the marshy places of the 

 vale, and now come borne on the breeze rolling along 

 the slopes ; and, as these pass over the dew-pond, 

 doubtless its colder water condenses that portion 

 which draws down into the depression where it stands. 

 In winter the vapors chnging about the clumps of 

 beech freeze to the bough§, forming, not a rime 

 merely, like that seen in the vale, but a kind of ice- 

 casing, while icicles also depend underneath. Now, 

 if a wind comes sweeping across the hill with sudden 

 blast, these glittering appendages rattle together 

 loudl}', and there falls a hail of jagged icy fragments. 

 When one has seen the size and quantity of these, 

 it become^ more easy to understand the amount of 

 w\ater which an intangible vapor ma}' carry with it 

 to be condensed into the pond or congealed upon the 

 tree. 



There is another such a pond half a mile or more 

 from the earthwork in another direction, but also 

 on a level, making two upon this high and exposed 



