noon
But we were in no mood for the picturesque . A few minutes brought us into the Blackberry hollow , which debouches into Redman 's Dell . Here , the road being both steep and rugged , our speed abated . The precipitous banks shut out the sunlight , except at noon , and the road through this defile , overhung by towering trees and rocks , was even now in solemn shadow . The cart-road leading down to Redman 's Dell , and passing the mills near Redman 's Farm , diverges from the footpath with which we are so well acquainted , near that perpendicular block of stone which stands a little above the steps which the footpath here descends . Just at the darkest point of the road , a little above the rude column which I have mentioned , Lake 's horse , a young one , shied , stopped short , recoiling on its haunches , and snorted fiercely into the air . At the same time , the two dogs which had accompanied us began to bark furiously beneath in the ravine .