My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

LIFE AT LEICESTER AND NEATH 139enjoyed our lunch and the distant view over valleyand mountain to the faint haze of the BristolChannel.We took nearly the same route back, had asubstantial tea at the little inn at Ystrad-fellte, andthen, about seven o'clock, walked down to the caveto prepare our quarters for the night.both of us at this time determined, if possible, to goabroad into more or less wild countries, and wewanted for once to try sleeping out-of-doors, with noshelter or bed but what nature provided.I think we hadJust inside the entrance of the cave there areslopes of water-worn rock and quantities of largepebbles and boulders, and here it was quite dry, whilefarther in, where there were patches of smaller stonesand sand, it was much colder and quite damp, so ourchoice of a bed was limited to rock or boulders. We firstchose a place for a fire, and then searched for sufficientdead or dry wood to last us the night. This took usa good while, and it was getting dusk before we litour fire. We then sat down, enjoying the flicker ofthe flame on the roof of the cavern, the glimmer ofthe stars through the trees outside, and the gentlemurmur of the little river beside us. After a scantysupper we tried to find a place where we could sleepwith the minimum of discomfort, but with very littlesuccess. I found it almost impossible to lie still forhalf an hour without seeking a more comfortableposition, but the change brought little relief. I thinkwe had determined purposely to make no preparation,but to camp out just as if we had come accidentallyto the place in an unknown country, and had beencompelled to sleep there. But very little sleep wasto be had, and while in health I have never passed amore uncomfortable night. Luckily it was not a long