I 4° 
THE FERN WORLD 
distance skirts midway the side of another combe which runs 
to meet the one we have been describing. Below, and 
running alongside of the path, another stream flows down 
this second combe, and, meeting the waters of the first, 
rolls on to the sea. Then the path bends sharply to the 
right, crossing a stone bridge, whose sides are clothed with 
moss and ivy, with creeping Polypody and little shining 
tufts of Hartstongue. This bridge crosses the lower bed 
of the combe and its hissing stream, which here gurgles 
along as it falls over its rough stony bottom. Turning to 
the right as we cross the bridge we get a peep of a pretty 
scene just over the bridge side. On the right and left of the 
stream Fern-dotted mossy banks slope down to the water, 
which for a few yards foams along in its bed, and then is lost 
from sight, under clustering Fern, leafy branch, and ivy- 
covered tree trunk. Crossing to the other side of the bridge, 
we catch a peep of the stream, where, before passing under 
the arch, it is formed of two separate rills, one on the left 
dropping out of the steeply-sloping bank, the other flowing 
from the opposite side, and both joining ere they reach the 
bridge. 
Leaving the bridge, our path now bends completely round 
and commences to traverse the opposite side of the combe, 
across the stream-bed of which we have just passed. A 
moment more and we can peep down the course of the combe 
to the sea. On our left the bosky hill rises high above us, 
the rocky sides of its lower bank rising steeply from the road, 
and covered with gorse and Fern, with the dark green of 
the ivy-plant, and the bright flowers of deliciously-scented 
honeysuckle. 
Winding on still we follow our charming road, which now 
near the mouth of the combe almost reaches the sea. Then 
for a moment we are constrained to pause, charmed by the 
exquisite loveliness, by the mingled freshness and beauty of 
