National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-08-15
4 BROKEN BRIDGE.

4 BROKEN BRIDGE.
reached the little Welsh town o
Abermaw one boisterous afternoon il
autumn at about four o'clock, after
long tramp over the mountains. Aber
nav, rs its name implies, is situated n
the mouth of the river Nav, which her,
forms an estuary about mile broad
The town itself faces tho open sea til,
harbor lies about half mile up tn,
estuary whilst between the town ant
the harbor WAS tie outline OF huge
bridge then in cou Of construction
Abermaw is little blt of place, con
sistng of a hotel, few shops, a church
chapel Of ease, and half dozer
lodging houses, which are built on c
platform of sand, the work of the ser
and river in concert or in conflict. The
old fishing village is perched upon th,
rocks above, ter upon tier, the Intel
stone of one house looking down upon
the chimney of the house below, and il
reached by rude rocky steps, where the
children of the village swarm up and
down, and yet rarely contrive to break
their necks.
The further shore Of the estuary vas
triangular spit of sand, across which
was track that joined the high road at
apoint where it commenced to mount
the shoulder Of beaten cliff on
the face Of which it was terraced for
on the further or southern side of the
estuary the sea washed up TO the very
base OF the rocks that formed the rug
ged fringe OF this IRON bound coast
There was a ferry from the Abermaw
side to the spit OF sand and thence, by
a detour of several miles. you could
make your way along the southern bank
of the river to the town OF Dolbadarn.
As the crow flies, Dolhadarn was not
more than seven miles distant from Aber-
nav, but it could not be reached by
any practic able track in less than from
ten to eleven miles for the river took
a wide sweep to the north, and, IN addl-
ton to the detuur thus caused, the first
bridge where tho road crossed the river
was Il point a good way wide of Dolba-
darn, so that, altogether, the distance
was lengthened to that above mention
ed. On the other hand, if you crossed
the ferry, and made your way across the
sand to the highway, the distance was
much the same, and this latter route
was Of course only practicable to foot
passengers
Although had reached Abermaw in
TIE guise of n free and Independent pc
destrnn, yet my liberty was of re-
stricted nature. Ny wife and children
had gone by the regular coach route to
Dolbadarn, and [ had crossed the noun
tains by wild foot track, promising to
join them that night at Dolbadarn in
time for dinner for had intended to
take the coach at Abermaw, which would
have brought me to the end of my jour
ney in good time. This coach, how
ever, | had missed by just five minutes.
Ny walk that day had been long one.
and | was rather tagged, and should
probably have hired conveyance for
the remainder of the distance but the
manner of the landlord of the hotel was
so abrupt, and, rs thought, offensive,
in answer to my inquiries, that |
resolved, come what might, he should
not be sixpence the richer of me-
walked on till came to n little pub
lie house at the further end of the town.
close to the rough quay that bordered
the estuary, and turned in there for
glass Oh beer and crust of bread and
cheese, as well as for the purpose
of making few inquiries as to my
route.
"Well, indeed" said Evan Row
lands. the landlord. there's no possi-
bic way to get to Dolbadarn tonight,
not unless you take car from Mr.
Jones"
Il shan't have a car from Mr.. Jones,
l said. Cant / hire one anywhere
else?"
Evan shook his head there was no
horse or car in Abermaw except the
horses and cars owned by Mr.. Jones.
Every well, then," said, l would
walk.
Not possible" said Evan; otis
more than zen miles"
| wouldn't mind the distance, only
I've walked tive-andtwenty miles al
ready"
Dear me y said Evan; you're very
strong ="
Cant get boat part of the way?'
L suggested.
Evan put his head out at the door.
!" he cried; " the tide has Just
turned, and it is running down very
strong"
Then there is nothing for 1t but
walking, l said; 81 must go round by
Llanfair Bridge" But l didn't like
much the idea of this ten miles walk
through the mist and gathering gloom.
Stop y said Evan. "Why shouldn't
you, go over the bridge-the railway
bridge ?"
" Is the bridge passable, then ? Can
you get across p
=, Oh, dear, yes The gentlemen from |
the Railway come over very often, and |
today Hugh Pugh and David Morris
did come over from the Dolbrith /
Quarry"
And what is the distance that will /
save me ?"
" Fonr or five miles; yes, sure"
:, . And the bridge is quite safe 2"
oh 1t is very strong and safe in
eseo or how should Hugh Pugh and