As I stood gazing around, the children danced about upon the grass, and sang a song.

The song was English.

I descended the hill; they followed me to its foot, and then left me.

The children of the lower class of Llangollen are great pests to visitors.
The best way to get rid of them is to give them nothing: I followed that plan, and was not long troubled with them.
Arrived at the foot of the hill, I walked along the bank of the canal to the west.

Presently I came to a barge lying by the bank; the boatman was in it.