ngs; at once so far away and so clear: a positive tramp; tramp; a metallic clatter; which effaced the soft wave…wanderings; as; in a picture; the solid mass of a crag; or the rough boles of a great oak; drawn in dark and strong on the foreground; efface the aerial distance of azure hill; sunny horizon; and blended clouds where tint melts into tint。
The din was on the causeway: a horse was ing; the windings of the lane yet hid it; but it approached。 I was just leaving the stile; yet; as the path was narrow; I sat still to let it go by。 In those days I was young; and all sorts of fancies bright and dark tenanted my mind: the memories of nursery stories were there amongst other rubbish; and when they recurred; maturing youth added to them a vigour and vividness beyond what childhood could give。 As this horse approached; and as I watched for it to appear through the dusk; I remembered certain of Bessie’s tales; wherein figured a North…of…England spirit called a “Gytrash;” which; in the form of horse; mule; or large dog; haunted solitary ways; and sometimes came upon belated travellers; as this horse was now ing upon me。
It was very near; but not yet in sight; when; in addition to the tramp; tramp; I heard a rush under the hedge; and close down by the hazel stems glided a great dog; whose black and white colour made him a distinct object against the trees。 It was exactly one form of Bessie’s Gytrash—a lion…like creature with long hair and a huge head: it passed me; h