Following it further, the glen opened out, sweeping away right and left in broad curves, while straight before them, a quarter of a mile distant, there rose out of the low scrub and fern a mighty wall of limestone, utterly barring all further progress save in a single spot to the left, where the vast grey wall was split, giving a glimpse of another glen beyond.

This great natural cleft was the limestone gate which they had come to see, and which was rendered the more wonderful by a tall pinnacle of rock, which stood in the centre of the gap about 300 feet in height, not unlike one of the same kind in Dovedale.
"I don't think I ever saw anything so beautiful," said Alice.

"How fine that spire of rock is, shooting up from the feathered shrubs at the base! I will come here some day and try to draw it." "Wait a minute," said Jim; "you have not seen half yet." He led them through the narrow pass, among the great boulders which lined the creek.

The instant they came beyond, a wind, icy cold, struck upon their cheeks, and Alice, dropping her reins, uttered a cry of awe and wonder, and Sam too exclaimed aloud; for before them, partly seen through crowded tree stems, and partly towering above the forest, lay a vast level wall of snow, flecked here and there by the purple shadow of some flying summer cloud.
A sight so vast and magnificent held them silent for a little; then suddenly, Jim, looking at Alice, saw that she was shivering.
"What is the matter, Alice, my dear ?" he said; "let us come away; the snow-wind is too much for you." "Oh! it is not that!" she said.

"Somebody is walking over my grave." "Oh, that's all!" said Jim; "they are always at it with me, in cold weather.