believed it led to an upland
farm. After taking a long and wistful view of the bridge and the scenery
around it, I turned my head in the direction of Llangollen. The
adventures of the day were, however, not finished.

CHAPTER XXI

The Gloomy Valley--The Lonely Cottage--Happy Comparison--Clogs--The Alder
Swamp--The Wooden Leg--The Militiaman--Death-bed Verses.

On reaching the ruined village where the Pandy stood I stopped, and
looked up the gloomy valley to the west, down which the brook which joins
the Ceiriog at this place, descends, whereupon John Jones said, that if I
wished to go up it a little way he should have great pleasure in
attending me, and that he should show me a cottage built in the hen
ddull, or old fashion, to which he frequently went to ask for the rent;
he being employed by various individuals in the capacity of
rent-gatherer. I said that I was afraid that if he was a rent-collector,
both he and I should have a sorry welcome. "No fear," he replied, "the
people are very good people, and pay their rent very regularly," and
without saying another word he led the way up the valley. At the end of
the village, seeing a woman standing at the door of one of the ruinous
cottages, I asked her the name of the brook, or torrent, which came down
the valley. "The Tarw," said she, "and this village is called Pandy
Teirw."

"Why is the streamlet called the bull?" said I. "Is it because it comes
in winter weather roaring down the glen and butting at the Ceiriog?"

The woman laughed, and replied that perhaps it was. The valley was wild
and solitary to an extraordinary degree, the brook or torrent running in
the middle of it covered with alder trees. After we had proceeded about
a furlong we reached the house of the old fashion--it was a rude stone
cottage standing a little above the road on a kind of platform on the
right-hand side of the glen; there was a paling before it with a gate, at
which a pig was screaming, as if anxious to get in. "It wants its
dinner," said John Jones, and opened the gate for me to pass, taking
precautions that the screamer did not enter at the same time. We entered
the cottage, very glad to get into it, a storm of wind and rain having
just come on. Nobody was in the kitchen when we entered, it looked
comfortable enough, however, there was an excellent fire of wood and
coals, and a very snug chimney corner. John Jones called aloud, but for
some time no one answered