"It is not, sir. The nearest house is the inn we came from, which
is now three miles behind us. Straight before you there is not one
for at least ten, and on either side it is an anialwch to a vast
distance. Plunlummon is not a sociable country, sir; nothing to be
found in it, but here and there a few sheep or a shepherd."
"Now," said I, descending from the carn, "we will proceed to the
sources of the rivers."
"The ffynnon of the Rheidol is not far off," said the guide; "it is
just below the hill."
We descended the western side of the hill for some way; at length,
coming to a very craggy and precipitous place, my guide stopped,
and pointing with his finger into the valley below, said:-
"There, sir, if you look down you can see the source of the
Rheidol."
I looked down, and saw far below what appeared to be part of a
small sheet of water.
"And that is the source of the Rheidol?" said I.
"Yes, sir," said my guide; "that is the ffynnon of the Rheidol."
"Well," said I; "is there no getting to it?"
"Oh yes! but the path, sir, as you see, is rather steep and
dangerous."
"Never mind," said I. "Let us try it."
"Isn't seeing the fountain sufficient for you, sir?"
"By no means," said I. "It is not only necessary for me to see the
sources of the rivers, but to drink of them, in order that in after
times I may be able to harangue about them with a tone of
confidence and authority."
"Then follow me, sir; but please to take care, for this path is
more fit for sheep or shepherds than gentlefolk."
And a truly bad path I found it; so bad indeed that before I had
descended twenty yards I almost repented having ventured.
