THE FERN WORLD 
!3‘ S 
the end of a green lane which also runs down to the sea 
between undulating meadows. Now we descry a bosky 
combe going down to the sea. We mount once more the 
hill-top, and get one more peep of the calm blue sea. Away 
to our right at the bottom of this hill lies Buck’s Mill, and 
descending it we follow a level road between ferny hedges, 
and anon we once more sight the blue sea. We have now 
traversed the eight miles of road between Bideford and the 
Hobby. A turning from the high road on the right leads 
us into that most charming drive. Under overarching trees 
which throw the path into cool shadow, we wind round and 
round, descending as we go. On our right there is a sloping 
tree-covered bank, dotted with shuttlecock shapes of Fern ; 
on the left a high bank richly clothed with grass and Fern, 
and crowned with trees which spread their fresh green 
branches over the road. For some little way the character 
of the scenery remains the same, but in a few moments we 
come upon a bend in the road round to the left. Turning 
round this bend a gap in the leafy curtain on the right 
affords us a prospect which compels us to pause. Away just 
in front as we turn to the right, two hills densely clothed 
with a dark mantle of trees sweep down into a combe. Their 
sides interlace midway, but the deepest part of the combe is 
hidden from view. Over the point where the hills intersect 
each other we get a peep of the sea. As the eye passes 
midway across the bosky side of the hill to the left we sight 
a cliff rising sheer from the sea, and in the foreground of the 
cliff a wooded bluff descending almost to the water’s edge. 
As we stand on the crest of the steep bank whence this 
delicious peep is to be had, we hear just below us the gentle 
murmur and hiss of a stream of water, which is hurrying 
down the bed of the combe to the sea, but which is hidden 
from sight by a thick screen of foliage. Down goes our path 
as we turn from this delightful spot, and follow its course, 
