Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume I.djvu/147

 detached rock, solitary, craggy, and pointed, starts out to a great height, and forms an object, truly sublime; which is pleasingly contrasted by the little pastoral river, and its verdant turfy bank below. The approach to this natural excavation is so difficult, even on foot, that we were not at all surprised by the account of an accident, given us by our guide, which occurred a few years back to Mr. Langton, dean of Clogher, and Miss Laroche, who madly rode up the acclivity on the same horse. The poor animal, unable to perform the unconscionable task imposed upon him, fell under his burthen, and rolled down the steep. The Dean paid the penalty of his rashness with his life; the young lady with difficulty recovered from her bruises; but the un-offending horse, who had been forced unwillingly to the attempt, was not injured by the accident.

As we proceeded on our walk, the Dale became narrower, admitting only a foot-path between the river and the rock, which now rose more abruptly on either side, and threw itself into shapes more wild and singular; but softened and diversified with mosses and lichens, shrubs and brush-wood. This scenery continued to the northern termination, where two vast rocks, rising sublimely to the right and left of the brook, form the jaws or portals of this wonderful valley, which now drops at once the