seemed to overhang the plain far below, through which ran many streams.

Sir Nathaniel stopped and looked around, as though to lose nothing of the
effect. The sun had climbed the eastern sky and was making all details
clear. He pointed with a sweeping gesture, as though calling Adam's
attention to the extent of the view. Having done so, he covered the
ground more slowly, as though inviting attention to detail. Adam was a
willing and attentive pupil, and followed his motions exactly, missing--or
trying to miss--nothing.

"I have brought you here, Adam, because it seems to me that this is the
spot on which to begin our investigations. You have now in front of you
almost the whole of the ancient kingdom of Mercia. In fact, we see the
whole of it except that furthest part, which is covered by the Welsh
Marches and those parts which are hidden from where we stand by the high
ground of the immediate west. We can see--theoretically--the whole of
the eastern bound of the kingdom, which ran south from the Humber to the
Wash. I want you to bear in mind the trend of the ground, for some time,
sooner or later, we shall do well to have it in our mind's eye when we
are considering the ancient traditions and superstitions, and are trying
to find the _rationale_ of them. Each legend, each superstition which we
receive, will help in the understanding and possible elucidation of the
others. And as all such have a local basis, we can come closer to the
truth--or the probability--by knowing the local conditions as we go
along. It will help us to bring to our aid such geological truth as we
may have between us. For instance, the building materials used in
various ages can afford their own lessons to understanding eyes. The
very heights and shapes and materials of these hills--nay, even of the
wide plain that lies between us and the sea--have in themselves the
materials of enlightening books."