128 
THE FERN WORLD 
Behind the spot where we stand looking down below at the 
river flowing through its deep and wooded gorge, a cliff, 
forming the base of the rocky hill in our rear, rises 
straight above us, and almost overhangs the road, which 
from this point, as we follow it towards Lynmouth, 
descends a little, fringed by rocks, as the hill on our 
left sinks almost to the level of these rocks. Then for 
some distance the road is level, and presently takes 
a bold sweep round to the right. Below us still the 
Lyn roars along its bed towards the sea, whilst the 
steeply-sloping bank which sweeps down to it is densely 
clothed with tree, furze, Fern, and heather. On the opposite 
side the hill, still wrapped in its mantle of woods, rises 
against the sky. 
Now on our left the hill again rises steeply, its side 
dotted with trees, Ferns, and shrubs, except in places where 
the green turf appears, uncovered by any larger growths. 
Now on our right we pass an old oak-tree, hanging 
almost horizontally over the stream bank, which now slopes 
steeply and now less steeply, Fern-covered to the river 
below ; still unseen, but with ceaseless roar hurrying on in 
its course. The almost perpendicular heights on the left of 
our path are here thickly clothed with the tall fronds of 
waving Bracken. Just at this spot, far below us, we can see 
for a moment, as we pass on, the white foam of the rushing 
stream at the bottom of the steeply-sloping bank. But 
onwards for some distance the watercourse is again hidden 
under its dark overgrowth of trees. Presently, however, 
the stream once more bursts into sight, but is again imme- 
diately hidden under spreading trees, the wood-mantled bill 
above still rising grandly to the sky. At this spot huge 
rocks rise out near the hill-top on the right of the Lyn. 
The hill is furze-covered, except below, where it is softly 
turfed. From our path the river banks here run down so 
