THE rOEKSHIRK GATES, 51 



experiences at the lugleborough had somewhat inclined us to 

 doubt — 



" Whoe'er has travelled life's dull round, 

 Whate'er his stages may have been, 

 May sigh to think he still has found 

 The warmest welcome at an Inn." 



Thus all night the pleasant face flung sweet fancies through the 

 brains of the sleepers, or some of them at least, for one of the 

 number, who was perforce compelled to woo the embraces of the 

 downy god upon a sofa which was a world too short for his pro- 

 portions, declared in the morning that he had "never slept a 

 wink," though he looked as fresh and ready for the day's work 

 as any of us. 



Eival programmes were proposed for our guidance on the trip, 

 but feeling, with the hero of Dickens, that ''discipline must be 

 maintained," we determined to follow the route sketched out for 

 us by the Secretaries, according to which a drive by Chapel-le- 

 Dale to the "VVeathercote Cave, and the Jingle and Hurtle Pots, 

 was to occupy the morning. 



This drive, about five miles in extent, lay through the valley 

 of the Greta, and between the rocky and broken moors of the 

 Ingleborough hill, — which the poet Gray called "that huge mon- 

 ster of nature," and an older writer still "that huge creature of 

 God," — on the right, and the terraced slopes of Whernside on 

 the left. By and bye, however, there was no Greta, but only a 

 dry torrent bed, the river having, at a place called Godsbridge, 

 played one of those pranks so common to rivers in the limestone 

 districts, and disappeared from the daylight into the darkness 

 beneath. 



Arrived at Weathercote, admission was obtained to the Cave 

 by applying to Mr. Metcalfe, in whose private grounds it is situ- 

 ated, and by a payment of one shilling each to the proprietor. 

 The Weathercote Cave is a perfect gem, being both Cave and 

 Waterfall combined. It is approached by a flight of rude, rough 

 steps, leading to a depth of about one hundred and twenty feet. 

 As you descend, the steps get rougher, and twisting about 

 amongst damp blocks of limestone, you suddenly find yourself in 



