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to him； sir； he is deaf and dumb。〃
〃I am glad he is no worse；〃 said I； 〃for I really thought he was
possessed with the evil one。 My good person； can you tell me the
name of this place？〃
〃Esgyrn Hirion； sir；〃 said he。
〃Esgyrn Hirion；〃 said I to myself； 〃Esgyrn means 'bones；' and
Hirion means 'long。' I am doubtless at the place which the old
ostler called Long Bones。 I shouldn't wonder if I get to the
Devil's Bridge to…night after all。〃 I then asked the man if he
could tell me the way to the bridge of the evil man； but he shook
his head and said that he had never heard of such a place； adding；
however； that he would go with me to one of the overseers； who
could perhaps direct me。 He then proceeded towards a row of
buildings； which were； in fact； those objects which I had guessed
to be houses in the distance。 He led me to a corner house； at the
door of which stood a middle…aged man； dressed in a grey coat； and
saying to me； 〃This person is an overseer；〃 returned to his labour。
I went up to the man； and； saluting him in English； asked whether
he could direct me to the Devil's Bridge； or rather to Pont Erwyd。
〃It would be of no use directing you； sir；〃 said he； 〃for with all
the directions in the world it would be impossible for you to find
the way。 You would not have left these premises five minutes
before you would be in a maze without knowing which way to turn。
Where do you come from？〃
〃From Machynlleth；〃 I replied。
〃From Machynlleth！〃 said he。 〃Well； I only wonder you ever got
here； but it would be madness to go farther alone。〃
〃Well；〃 said I； 〃can I obtain a guide？〃
〃I really don't know；〃 said he； 〃I am afraid all the men are
engaged。〃
As we were speaking a young man made his appearance at the door
from the interior of the house。 He was dressed in a brown short
coat； had a glazed hat on his head； and had a pale but very
intelligent countenance。
〃What is the matter？〃 said he to the other man。
〃This gentleman；〃 replied the latter； 〃is going to Pont Erwyd； and
wants a guide。〃
〃Well；〃 said the young man； 〃we must find him one。 It will never
do to let him go by himself。〃
〃If you can find me a guide；〃 said I； 〃I shall be happy to pay him
for his trouble。〃
〃Oh； you can do as you please about that；〃 said the young man；
〃but； pay or not； we would never suffer you to leave this place
without a guide； and as much for our own sake as yours； for the
directors of the Company would never forgive us if they heard we
had suffered a gentleman to leave these premises without a guide；
more especially if he were lost； as it is a hundred to one you
would be if you went by yourself。〃
〃Pray；〃 said I； 〃what Company is this； the directors of which are
so solicitous about the safety of strangers？〃
〃The Potosi Mining Company；〃 said he； 〃the richest in all Wales。
But pray walk in and sit down； for you must be tired。〃
CHAPTER LXXXI
The Mining Compting Room … Native of Aberystwyth … Story of a
Bloodhound … The Young Girls … The Miner's Tale … Gwen Frwd … The
Terfyn。
I FOLLOWED the young man with the glazed hat into a room； the other
man following behind me。 He of the glazed hat made me sit down
before a turf fire； apologising for its smoking very much。 The
room seemed half compting…room； half apartment。 There was a wooden
desk with a ledger upon it by the window； which looked to the west；
and a camp bedstead extended from the southern wall nearly up to
the desk。 After I had sat for about a minute； the young man asked
me if I would take any refreshment。 I thanked him for his kind
offer； which I declined； saying； however； that if he would obtain
me a guide I should feel much obliged。 He turned to the other man
and told him to go and inquire whether there was any one who would
be willing to go。 The other nodded； and forthwith went out。
〃You think； then；〃 said I； 〃that I could not find the way by
myself？〃
〃I am sure of it；〃 said he； 〃for even the people best acquainted
with the country frequently lose their way。 But I must tell you；
that if we do find you a guide； it will probably be one who has no
English。〃
〃Never mind；〃 said I； 〃I have enough Welsh to hold a common
discourse。〃
A fine girl about fourteen now came in； and began bustling about。
〃Who is this young lady？〃 said I。
〃The daughter of a captain of a neighbouring mine；〃 said he； 〃she
frequently comes here with messages； and is always ready to do a
turn about the house； for she is very handy。〃
〃Has she any English？〃 said I。
〃Not a word；〃 he replied。 〃The young people of these hills have no
English； except they go abroad to learn it。〃
〃What hills are these？〃 said I。
〃Part of the Plynlimmon range；〃 said he。
〃Dear me；〃 said I； 〃am I near Plynlimmon？〃
〃Not very far from it；〃 said the young man； 〃and you will be nearer
when you reach Pont Erwyd。〃
〃Are you a native of these parts？〃 said I。
〃I am not；〃 he replied； 〃I am a native of Aberystwyth； a place on
the sea…coast about a dozen miles from here。〃
〃This seems to be a cold； bleak spot；〃 said I； 〃is it healthy？〃
〃I have reason to say so；〃 said he； 〃for I came here from
Aberystwyth about four months ago very unwell； and am now perfectly
recovered。 I do not believe there is a healthier spot in all
Wales。〃
We had some further discourse。 I mentioned to him the adventure
which I had on the hill with the fellow with the donkey。 The young
man said that he had no doubt that he was some prowling thief。
〃The dogs of the shepherd's house；〃 said I； 〃didn't seem to like
him； and dogs generally know an evil customer。 A long time ago I
chanced to be in a posada； or inn； at Valladolid in Spain。 One hot
summer's afternoon I was seated in a corridor which ran round a
large open court in the middle of the inn； a fine yellow； three…
parts…grown bloodhound was lying on the ground beside me with whom
I had been playing； a little time before。 I was just about to fall
asleep； when I heard a 'hem' at the outward door of the posada；
which was a long way below at the end of a passage which
communicated with the court。 Instantly the hound started upon his
legs； and with a loud yell； and with eyes flashing fire； ran nearly
round the corridor； down a flight of steps； and through the passage
to the gate。 There was then a dreadful noise； in which the cries
of a human being and the yells of the hound were blended。 I
forthwith started up and ran down； followed by several other
guests； who came rushing out of their chambers round the corridor。
At the gate we saw a man on the ground and the hound trying to
strangle him。 It was with the greatest difficulty； and chiefly
through the intervention of the master of the dog； who happened to
be present； that the animal could be made to quit his hold。 The
assailed person was a very powerful man； but had an evil
countenance； was badly dressed； and had neither hat； shoes nor
stockings。 We raised him up and gave him wine； which he drank
greedily； and presently； without saying a word； disappeared。 The
guests said they had no doubt that