occupation, and bronze weapons, armlets, rings, coins, etc., of the Brito-Roman days. The theory as to the last-mentioned articles is that the inhabitants of the district found shelter here for a time after the departure of the Romans, when the Northern tribes, held no longer in check, came down into the Craven country. To account for the loose bones, it has been surmised that the wolf may have found a safe den in this cave long after it was driven out of other parts of England. [Illustration: _Walker & Boutall sc._ THE COURSE OF THE WHARFE.] Returning to the Wharfe, and following the river on its way from Kettlewell, Coniston is reached--a picturesque village, with a maypole, trim garden ground in front of most of the houses, and a church which, according to Whitaker, is the most ancient building in Craven. Since Whitaker's time the church has been much improved, but it retains many of its ancient features. From Coniston it is a short walk across country to Kilnsey, where is a grand stretch of overhanging limestone, "a promontory," says Phillips, "of the primeval sea loch, which is now the green valley of the Wharfe." The crag is nearly half a mile in extent, and rises at its highest part, whence there is a fine view, to 165 feet. A beautifully wooded walk of three miles leads from Coniston to Grassington, where at one time a good deal of lead was obtained and smelted. Here is what is said to be the oldest bridge on the river. What became of some earlier bridges on the same stream is told in an entry in the church books of Otley, under date 1673. On the 11th of September in that year there was "a wonderful inundation of waters in the northern parts," and on that occasion "this river of Wharfe, never known to be so big within the memory of man, overturned Kettlewell Bridge, Burnsey Bridge, Barden Bridge, Bolton Bridge, Ilkley Bridge, and Otley Bridge." It also swept away certain fulling mills of wood, and "carried them down whole, like to a ship." And when the flood had passed, "it left neither corn nor cattle on the coast thereof." [Illustration: SKIPTON CASTLE, FROM ONE OF THE TOWERS.]