it, his vanity, and his
talkativeness.

CHAPTER III.

You are now within a foot
Of the extreme verge; for all beneath the moon
Would I not leap upright!
KING LEAR.

Shortly after this mad prank of Kelson's, Mr. Millinet invited Mary to
walk out one lovely evening, to which she gladly assented. They took
their way towards the "Whale's Head," a name given by the inhabitants of
B---- to the high bluff already mentioned, that formed the eastern side
of their harbor, from its real or fancied resemblance to the nose, or to
speak more scientifically, "noddle-end," of a whale. A path descended
obliquely from the upper part of the cape down to the beach at its foot.
The whole cape and the land adjacent were comprised in the estate of
Captain Bowline, who kept the paths in good repair, and had been at
considerable pains, when he first took possession of the farm, to render
it perfectly safe and passable, for the convenience of the fishermen,
who were in the habit of digging clams on the narrow beach at the foot
of the hill, and fishing among the sunken rocks at the extreme point.
For the whole length of the path the hill was extremely steep, but not
perpendicular, and covered with short dried grass, which made the
surface so slippery, that it afforded an apt illustration of Virgil's
"facilis descensus Averni;" for though any one might accomplish a
descent safely enough by dint of holding on to the few shrubs and
bushes, and sliding occasionally, no animal but a cat, a goat, or a
monkey, could ascend, if it was to save his life. Near the middle of the
path it was crossed by a deep gap, or ravine, caused by the constant
wearing of a small spring of water that trickled down the face of the
cliff, and which was generally swollen by the melting of the snow, or by
occasional heavy rains. The beach, or rather marsh, at the foot of the
hill, where the little rivulet joined the sea, was so soft and boggy, as
to be utterly impassable. Across this ravine, which was known by the
name of the "Devil's Gap," Captain Bowline had caused a narrow bridge,
of two planks in width, to be built, protected on the outside by a light
railing. On the side next the hill, it was sufficiently guarded by the
crooked branches of a knurly and scrubby oak tree, that grew on the very
edge of the ravine.

Down this path the fair Mary and her suitor directed their steps. They
wandere