"Now, there is no hurry, but so soon as you are both ready we shall
start," Mr. Salton said when breakfast had begun. "I want to take you
first to see a remarkable relic of Mercia, and then we'll go to Liverpool
through what is called 'The Great Vale of Cheshire.' You may be
disappointed, but take care not to prepare your mind"--this to Adam--"for
anything stupendous or heroic. You would not think the place a vale at
all, unless you were told so beforehand, and had confidence in the
veracity of the teller. We should get to the Landing Stage in time to
meet the _West African_, and catch Mr. Caswall as he comes ashore. We
want to do him honour--and, besides, it will be more pleasant to have the
introductions over before we go to his _fete_ at the Castle."

The carriage was ready, the same as had been used the previous day, but
there were different horses--magnificent animals, and keen for work.
Breakfast was soon over, and they shortly took their places. The
postillions had their orders, and were quickly on their way at an
exhilarating pace.

Presently, in obedience to Mr. Salton's signal, the carriage drew up
opposite a great heap of stones by the wayside.

"Here, Adam," he said, "is something that you of all men should not pass
by unnoticed. That heap of stones brings us at once to the dawn of the
Anglian kingdom. It was begun more than a thousand years ago--in the
latter part of the seventh century--in memory of a murder. Wulfere, King
of Mercia, nephew of Penda, here murdered his two sons for embracing
Christianity. As was the custom of the time, each passer-by added a
stone to the memorial heap. Penda represented heathen reaction after St.
Augustine's mission. Sir Nathaniel can tell you as much as you want