The post of danger is the post of honour, and it might therefore be supposed that the gentlemen of our detachment were all ambitious of being heroes, and immortalizing their names amongst the brave of other days, who had vanquished or fallen near this impregnable fortress of nature’s workmanship; but no such thing, Mr. Otway honestly avowed that his love of adventure was cooled in the stream of time, and that, with the perils of the expedition he would surrender all title to a share in its glories. This was fair and reasonable, suitable to his years, and according with his generosity. But what will you say of Master Falkland, when I tell you that his youthful blood boiled not with either martial or romantic ardour? Protesting against the ungallant proceeding of leaving two damsels in the care of _one_ knight, he sent forward Bentley and your humble servant to meet all the hazard of the undertaking. In short, George and I were decreed to be “_les enfans perdus_,” while Falkland, not contented with the privileges of exemption from our toils, laid claim to the rewards of chivalry, and sought in Emily’s approving smile a full ratification of his cowardly choice. _Yes_, Charles, if I mistake not, is no longer _compos mentis_; and if so, we must not be too hard upon him. I set out with George upon the most interesting perambulation I ever made in my life. We took a guide, and, followed by a peasant boy, struck out of the beaten track, and wandered for several hours through the Valleys of the Waldenses, amid pathless defiles of rock and glen, which presented such matchless variety, such astonishing contrast of the beautiful and sublime, as I should in vain attempt to pourtray with any hope of doing justice to the scenery.