ll I flung myself down under it, and almost thought that I should
give up the ghost. After some time, however, I recovered, and getting up
tried to find my way out of the anialwch. Sheer good fortune caused me
to stumble upon a path, by following which I came to a lone farm-house,
where a good-natured woman gave me certain directions by means of which I
at last got out of the hot stony wilderness, for such it was, upon a
smooth royal road.

"Trust me again taking any short cuts," said I, "after the specimen I
have just had." This, however, I had frequently said before, and have
said since after taking short cuts--and probably shall often say again
before I come to my great journey's end.

I turned to the east which I knew to be my proper direction, and being
now on smooth ground put my legs to their best speed. The road by a
rapid descent conducted me to a beautiful valley with a small town at its
southern end. I soon reached the town, and on inquiring its name found I
was in Tan y Bwlch, which interpreted signifieth "Below the Pass."
Feeling much exhausted I entered the Grapes Inn.

On my calling for brandy and water I was shown into a handsome parlour.
The brandy and water soon restored the vigour which I had lost in the
wilderness. In the parlour was a serious-looking gentleman, with a glass
of something before him. With him, as I sipped my brandy and water, I
got into discourse. The discourse soon took a religious turn, and
terminated in a dispute. He told me he believed in divine
predestination; I told him I did not, but that I believed in divine
prescience. He asked me whether I hoped to be saved; I told him I did,
and asked him whether he hoped to be saved. He told me he did not, and
as he said so, he tapped with a silver tea-spoon on the rim of his glass.
I said that he seemed to take very coolly the prospect of damnation; he
replied that it was of no use taking what was inevitable otherwise than
coolly. I asked him on what ground he imagined he should be lost; he
replied on the ground of being predestined to be lost. I asked him how
he knew he was predestined to be lost; whereupon he asked me how I knew I
was to be saved. I told him I did not know I was to be saved, but
trusted I should be so by belief in Christ, who came into the world to
save sinners, and that if he believed in Christ he might be as easily
saved as myself, or any other sinner who believed in Him. Our dispute
continued a consi