Page:Walks in the Black Country and its green border-land.pdf/199

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and its Green Border-Land.
185

the aspect of this mediæval economy, and some of its streets are crooked and narrow enough to please any antiquarian tourist. We noticed one in the centre of the town called Dun Cow Lane. Then some of the inns have all the quaint nomenclature of the olden times, which always give such zest and relish to their entertainment. At one of these we lunched on bread and cheese in the old tap-room fashion, then set forth on our small Alpine expedition. We came very near mounting the wrong hill, for there are several grouped together near the town. The Wrekin, however, cannot be mistaken when seen in comparison with the others. Indeed some derive its name from wre and ken, two British words which they say mean the "chief hill." Being set aright by a lad we met, we proceeded by a winding road between the two heights. The one on our left as we ascended presented a remarkable form and appearance. Several hundred feet of its flank showed a geological formation worth studying, and which I will not undertake to describe in the usual stiff and technical phraseology. To the common reader, who rather tires of such terms, I would only say: Imagine a small, precipitous mountain with all its bare, steep rocks on fire, and all its alternate currents of red flame and blue smoke blown and twisted about by the wind. When you have this sight fresh and distinct in