through to Bryn Afon, and tell us all in triumph of what she had done. Poor little maid! My lord, one day they sent from Caer Caradoc to tell me they had sought for her in the tunnel, and had found her bonnet, caught on a ledge just below the mouth of the old well, which goes sheer down, as you know, my lord, to a depth that none may fathom, and which, as you may likewise call to mind, is in a far corner of the passage, where it takes a sudden sharp turn, and where no doubt her foot had slipped unwarily, and she had fallen. "I went myself, my lord, and they let me down by the longest ropes that could be had, into the black darkness, but my feet never touched the bottom. They always said the well was verily like unto the bottomless pit itself, but I had never believed it till then! My lord, my soul grew just as dark within me as that underground tunnel, and I cursed myself day and night for ever letting her out of my sight. God forgive me, if I cursed Him too in my misery! The housekeeper, that had been a friend of my wife's from their youth upwards, fretted herself into her last illness for not taking better care of the child, and for having suffered her unawares to get possession of the key; but I had never the heart to blame her myself, for there were few that could ever say my pretty daughter nay! The woman died, poor soul, of the shock, and I--well, my lord, I scarce can tell how I lived through my wretchedness of heart, till the thought came to me to build the bridge. I was down by the river one summer evening, watching the stream running by, and listening to the swish the wind was making among the trees on the other side, when all at once the rippling water seemed as it passed to take the sound of my daughter's voice, saying as clear as I now speak myself: 'Build me a bridge over the river, father! Build me a bridge over the river!' You know, my lord, there is a tale in our valley that the river speaks out the thoughts of those who listen to its flow, and whether or no it was so then with myself, I know not--save only that it was the tones of my own little girl I heard clearly as it rippled over the stones at my feet; and then and there, sir, I marked out the spot where my bridge should be, and I warrant you not many days were gone by before the neighbours came gaping around to watch what they were pleased to call 'the boatman's folly,' though, look you, the first time they walked over the bridge they sang a different song! I put my heart and soul into that bridge, my lord, and begrudged not a penny it cost me, for it was for the child I built it, and what use to save my money when she was dead?" "It was a brave thought, good Jack," said the earl; "and think you it will some day repay your outlay?" "I make no doubt of it, my lord," answered Jack, proudly. "I take much toll on market-days, and in the summer many visitors are wont to pass through our beautiful Gwynnon Valley, and across my bridge.