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to find with what ease and rapidity we got on. At first we
stopped repeatedly, to sit down and drink from the streams
that crossed the track, or flowed beside it: and during
those halts, we observed that the blackness which had for
some time been appearing in the west, now completely
shrouded the sea. Next, we remarked that while the wind
still blew in our faces,- that is, from the north-east,- the
mass of western clouds was evidently climbing the sky. The
guide quietly observed that there would be rain by and by.
Next, when we were in the middle of the wide fell, and we
saw how puzzling the network of swampy paths must be at all
times, we pointed out to one another how the light fleeces
of cloud below the black mass swept round in a circle,
following each other like streams in an eddy. Soon, the dark
mass came driving up at such a rate that it was clear we
should not finish our walk in good weather. The dense mist
was presently upon us. On looking behind, to watch its rate
of advance, we saw a few flashes of lightning burst from it.
The thunder had for some time been growling afar, almost
incessantly. The moment before the explosion of the storm
was as like a dream as a waking state can be. We were
walking on wild ground, now ascending, now descending; a
deep tarn (Floutern Tarn) on our right hand, our feet
treading on slippery rushes, or still more slippery grass:
the air was dark, as during an eclipse; and heavy mists
drove past from behind, just at the level of our heads, and
sinking every moment; while before us, and far far below us
- down as in a different world - lay Buttermere and the
neighbouring vales
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