thoroughly raised our sympathy for the faithful girl; and brought vividly before us the dangers and perils to which the inhabitants of romantic Clovelly are exposed. Our pleasant day spent there was pleasantly "rounded off" by this gossip with its genial people.

215

APPLEDORE AND NORTHAM BURROWS.

AMONG the attractions which the neighbourhood of Bideford presents to the rambler, we must not forget the historic Appledore and the magnificent Northam Burrows. You may go to Appledore by three routes, either of which, as we can vouch, who have tried them all, is a most delightful ramble. You can cross the ancient, long, many-arched, narrow, famous, and legendary bridge, and by a pleasant walk go on to Instow. A short time will suffice to look through this clean and healthy village, and then you take a boat and cross the Torridge to Appledore; or you can go the ordinary turnpike-road, passing through the ancient village of Northam, whose noble church you will do well to pause and admire; or, which to our minds is best of all, you can leave the road about three-quarters of a mile from Bideford, and take the path by the river side. Some of your walking will be along a narrow hill-side path, with thick luxuriant underwood and fruit-laden blackberry bushes on your left, and pleasant fields, rich in farm produce, on your right. It was a glorious bright and hot day when we rambled last over this ground, and nature smiled on all things with her most benign and her brightest smile. The river glistened and

sparkled beneath the rays of the sun, and the sea stretching out beyond was radiant with silvery waves. Bees were humming around us, and flies were buzzing through their lives of ephemeral joy. Butterflies, of many varieties, were disporting themselves among the wild flowers, and some rare specimens popularly known as the azure butterfly and the shaded yellow were met with. The hips and haws were glowing in the sun, and the deadly nightshade and ruddy briony hung their gem-like, but fatal berries, from many a spray. The red "rowans were in their richest tint and most profuse abundance. Such are a few of the accompaniments of a ramble to Appledore, which they have who go out of the beaten track, and fear not a little extra toil.

Appledore is an ancient place. The Romans have left their legacy there in one of their famous roads. Traditions of the time of the Danish and Saxon struggles are still vital among the people. We are now standing on the spot where once stood the Hubba-stone, which it is said marked the restingplace of the famous old warrior Hubba. The terrible Dane landed at Appledore in the reign of Alfred; he came with a fleet of thirty-three ships, and laid siege to a place called Kenwirth Castle. A hill bearing the name of Henny Castle, is pointed out as the site of this old fortress. It proved too strong for the assailants, and Hubba was slain under the walls. Returning from this hill, you pass a spot still bearing the name of the Bloody Corner, where it is said his flying and pursued followers rallied, and so far

checked the pursuit, that the remainder were enabled to regain their ships. Their great chief was, however, left dead behind them; and the tradition-loving sailor population of the place point out the spot on the shore where the Danish invader and hero was buried,-who afterwards, shall we say, "troubled them no more for ever?" Alas! no; for even now his spirit occasionally appears, and terrifies the good folks of Appledore.

The great attractions at Appledore are the Northam Burrows, and the famous Pebble Ridge. The Burrows consist of a level plain of fine turf of more than a thousand acres in extent. This vast plain is formed entirely of sandy deposits from the sea and rivers, and is land which has been rescued from the waters. It is common property, and there the people of the neighbouring villages hold their pic-nics and merry-makings; and a glorious place for such purposes it is. The invigorating sea-breeze sweeps over the level plain of alluvial land, filling you with a perfect delirium of joy. So fresh, so pure, so exhilarating is the air of the place, that you are tempted to do all sorts of semi-frantic tricks; and if you are, like ourselves, thoroughly bent upon receiving from nature all she offers, taking joy as it comes, and acting on the impulses as they arise, and have not a very venerable respect for the proprieties, you will most probably do as we did-leap, and run, and sing, and shout, and perform a variety of antics which, if done in a town, would end in placing you in a lunatic asylum. What a glorious place it must

be when hundreds of happy men and women are assembled here! playing at various games, shouting, laughing, singing, making harmless mischief, or "tripping it on the light fantastic toe," to the sound of merry, merry music. This may occasionally be seen; but when we rambled over its mighty spread of grass, only one small party besides our own was there. This consisted of one gentleman and four ladies,-too unequal a division for thorough enjoyment, we thought; our own party being more equally proportioned. How we enjoyed that walk, to be sure!

It was a calm, quiet day; scarcely any wind was stirring; but long ere we reached the Pebble Ridge we heard the deep voice of the western sea, as its waves broke thereon. When it is rough, the sound of old ocean's "thunder hymn" can be heard at a distance of more miles than we should like to mention here, lest those who stay at home should put it down as a traveller's exaggeration. The noise, however, at such times of storm and fury, is something appalling. This ridge, a natural breakwater, protects the Burrows from the sea; it extends some two miles in an almost straight line. "It is about fifty feet wide, and twenty feet high, and consists of rolled slate-stones or pebbles, which vary in size from half a foot to two feet in diameter." The ascent from the Burrows is rather precipitous; but the slope to the sea is more gentle; and it is a very curious fact, that not a pebble is to be found beyond the ridge on either side. Landwards all is a level, unin