Nocturnal Journey - Maes y Lynn - The Figure - Earl of Leicester -Twm Shone Catti - The Farmer and Bull - Tom and the Farmer - The Cave - The Threat - Tom a Justice - The Big Wigs - Tregaron.
IT was dusk by the time I had regained the high-road by the village of the Rhyd Fendigaid.
As I was yet eight miles from Tregaron, the place where I intended to pass the night, I put on my best pace. In a little time Ireached a bridge over a stream which seemed to carry a considerable tribute to the Teivi.
"What is the name of this bridge?" said I to a man riding in a cart, whom I met almost immediately after I had crossed the bridge.
"Pont Vleer," methought he said, but as his voice was husky and indistinct, very much like that of a person somewhat the worse for liquor, I am by no means positive.
It was now very dusk, and by the time I had advanced about a mile farther dark night settled down, which compelled me to abate my pace a little, more especially as the road was by no means first-rate. I had come, to the best of my computation, about four miles from the Rhyd Fendigaid when the moon began partly to show itself, and presently by its glimmer I saw some little way off on my right hand what appeared to be a large sheet of water. I went on, and in about a minute saw two or three houses on the left, which stood nearly opposite to the object which I had deemed to be water, and which now appeared to be about fifty yards distant in a field which was separated from the road by a slight hedge. Going up to the principal house I knocked, and a woman ****** her appearance at the door, I said:
"I beg pardon for troubling you, but I wish to know the name of this place.""Maes y Lynn - The Field of the Lake," said the woman.
"And what is the name of the lake?" said I.
"I do not know," said she; "but the place where it stands is called Maes Llyn, as I said before.""Is the lake deep?" said I.
"Very deep," said she.
"How deep?" said I.
"Over the tops of the houses," she replied.
"Any fish in the lake?"
"Oh yes! plenty."
"What fish?"
"Oh, there are llysowen, and the fish we call ysgetten.""Eels and tench," said I; "anything else?""I do not know," said the woman; "folks say that there used to be queer beast in the lake, water-cow used to come out at night and eat people's clover in the fields.""Pooh," said I, "that was merely some person's cow or horse, turned out at night to fill its belly at other folks' expense.""Perhaps so," said the woman; "have you any more questions to ask?""Only one," said I; "how far is it to Tregaron?""About three miles: are you going there?""Yes, I am going to Tregaron."
"Pity that you did not come a little time ago," said the woman;"you might then have had pleasant company on your way; pleasant man stopped here to light his pipe; he too going to Tregaron.""It doesn't matter," said I; "I am never happier than when keeping my own company." Bidding the woman good night, I went on. The moon now shone tolerably bright, so that I could see my way, and Isped on at a great rate. I had proceeded nearly half a mile, when I thought I heard steps in advance, and presently saw a figure at some little distance before me. The individual, probably hearing the noise of my approach, soon turned round and stood still. As Idrew near I distinguished a stout burly figure of a man, seemingly about sixty, with a short pipe in his mouth.
"Ah, is it you?" said the figure, in English, taking the pipe out of his mouth; "good evening, I am glad to see you." Then shaking some burning embers out of his pipe, he put it into his pocket, and trudged on beside me.
"Why are you glad to see I me?" said I, slackening my pace; "I am a stranger to you; at any rate, you are to me.""Always glad to see English gentleman," said the figure; "always glad to see him.""How do you know that I am an English gentleman?" said I.
"Oh, I know Englishman at first sight; no one like him in the whole world.""Have you seen many English gentleman?" said I.
"Oh yes, have seen plenty when I have been up in London.""Have you been much in London?"
"Oh yes; when I was a drover was up in London every month.""And were you much in the society of English gentlemen when you were there?""Oh yes; a great deal."
"Whereabouts in London did you chiefly meet them?""Whereabouts? Oh, in Smithfield."
"Dear me!" said I; "I thought that was rather a place for butchers than gentlemen.""Great place for gentlemen, I assure you," said the figure; "met there the finest gentleman I ever saw in my life; very grand, but kind and affable, like every true gentleman. Talked to me a great deal about Anglesey runts, and Welsh legs of mutton, and at parting shook me by the hand, and asked me to look in upon him, if I was ever down in his parts, and see his sheep and taste his ale.""Do you know who he was?" said I.
"Oh yes; know all about him; Earl of Leicester, from county of Norfolk; fine old man indeed - you very much like him - speak just in same way.""Have you given up the business of drover long?" said I.
"Oh yes; given him up a long time, ever since domm'd railroad came into fashion.""And what do you do now?" said I.
"Oh, not much; live upon my means; picked up a little property, a few sticks, just enough for old crow to build him nest with -sometimes, however, undertake a little job for neighbouring people and get a little money. Can do everything in small way, if necessary; build little bridge, if asked; - Jack of all Trades -live very comfortably."
"And where do you live?"
"Oh, not very far from Tregaron."
"And what kind of place is Tregaron?"
"Oh, very good place; not quite so big as London but very good place.""What is it famed for?" said I, "Oh, famed for very good ham; best ham at Tregaron in all Shire Cardigan.""Famed for anything else?"
"Oh yes! famed for great man, clever thief, Twm Shone Catti, who was born there.""Dear me!" said I; "when did he live?"