A Visit To The English Lakes.

prefer the old roundabout route b y Sprinkling tarn as the safest and best known . He will wait for me at St y Head . I get there in about an hour , and my friend is not there , and after ivaiting some time I imagine that he must have gone on . The way back is very rough , and I have a few tumbles over the jagged stones ancl break my flask . The old scenes are passed in quick successionancl night is fast drawing on . I enquire of every person if he has

, seen anybody resembling my friend , but the answer is always in the negative . Three hours stiff walking and I am once more on the banks of Derwent Water , and haA'e the pleasure of Avitnessing , through the nearly autumn-tinted leaves of the trees , a most gorgeous sunset . The mountain tops are tipped with gold , the lake ripples the reflection into crimson ringlets , ancl the silent gliding boats leave a silver trail behind them . The islandswith their dark

, trees breaking the reflection , lend more beauty to the scene , and in the distance the colour fades into a glorious purple . Nothing is heard but the cawing of crows , the lowing of cattle , ancl the tiny babble of the water ; all -wears the aspect of a most delightful fairy scene . Another hour along the shore of this loA'ely lake , and I arrive at KeSAi'ick ; ancl my friend has not turned up ! I am most anxiousand make all sorts of surmisehardlknowing what to do .

, , y However , I get my tea , and in an hour-and-a-half he arrives , to my extreme satisfaction and relief , he having found the short cut much the harder and longer way , and losing his umbrella in a gully . "All ' s well that ends Avell . " AVe go to the model again , and talk over the routes . Our long and ' tirinowalk inclines us for sleep . Another glance at the town in the morning , and we take the train for Troutbecknoticing a few Hull faces . There the coach

, takes us on the road to Patterdale . The weather is dull ancl damp , but afterwards turns out fine . GoAvbarroAV Park is very prettily Avooded , and ive skirt the lake , " where flow ' rets WOAV ancl whispering naiads dwell , " catching a delightful glimpse as we pass by Lyulph ' s Tower , " with its ivy-clad Avails . Ullswater looks almost like a sea ivith its - waves flashing in the sun , and "Heli'ellyn crowned with clouds " at its head .

" Abrupt and sbeer the mountains sink At once upon the level brink . " Arriving at Patterdale , we find good accommodation at the AVhite Lion , and make a heart y dinner . AVe do not " climb the dark broiv of the mi ghty Helvellyn , " as my friend is too tired , but take a boat on the lake . The scenery here is very fineancl has a character of its ownbut is not so plea sin ° ' as

, ; . Derwent AVater . We visit all the islands , about which there is nothing remarkable , and row to the other end of the lake in four hours . The steamer being here , we get some biscuits and start back again ; but row as we will , the great boat , intended to hold about a dozen people , will not go three miles an hour , ancl it is beginning to get dark . AVhen we get half way home we can see nothingarLCl do not know which side of the lake we are onnor where the

, , islands and rocks are . All we can do is to row doggedly on , ancl trust to ° 'ood luck to keep us away from them . No lights or landmarks , ancl it is drizzling , uncertain flickering flashes of lightning being our only guide . Our position is not very enviable—in the middle of a dangerous lake in a strange place , nothing to be seen , and a storm coming on . On , on we row , with mechanical perseA'erance , yet never appear to be any nearer ; an interminable time it

seems ^ suddenl y swish ! ancl we are stuck fast in the reeds . AA e back out Avith difficulty , ancl try over ancl over again in different directions , but always Avith the same result ; so we land the boat in a field , and lock it to a fence . ¦ Terra firma at last ! What a relief ; now , to find where we are . A thick plantation bars our further progress . This we scramble through at the expense of our clothes ancl skins , and , after some further trouble , find the high road about a mile from the inn . Leaving the key , and explaining the case to the anxious boat-owner , we get to the AVhite Lion at about eleven o ' clock , ancl 02