220 THE ADVENTURES OF 



the reptiles scarcely fled at our approach, and obliged us to 

 use the greatest care. 



Cutlass in hand, Lucien climbed nimbly over the fallen 

 trees which barred our progress. Ere long our feet sank 

 into a quantity of liquid mud, and I discovered a slender 

 streamlet of limpid water oozing out between two rocks. 

 The pass between the rocks became narrower and narrower, 

 and if a wild beast had then met us we should have had to 

 dispute the path with it. As a rencontre of this kind was 

 by no means impossible, Lucien, to his displeasure, was 

 ordered to follow in rear. 



The way now widened a little, and became more clear of 

 impediments, and our little column advanced with rather 

 more rapidity. We walked along silently between these 

 stern and imposing granite walls, with the constant hope of 

 seeing them separate and open out into a valley. Every 

 few yards some fresh turn frustrated our expectations ; 

 and if ever any pass deserved the name of the "Devil's 

 Gorge," it was the interminable fissure through which 

 we had been compelled to walk for so long a distance. 

 At various heights thei'e were half-suspended rocks which 

 threatened to fall upon us ; for several previously had fall- 

 en and now blocked up the path. At last a sudden 

 turn revealed a wide opening ; but our joy was of short 

 duration; nothing but a perpendicular precipice lay in 

 front of us. 



We looked at one another in consternation; we were 

 prisoners ! On our right and left were perpendicular walls 

 more than a hundred feet high, and impossible to climb ; 

 before us there was a gulf with a vertical precipice. What 

 was to be done ? Sumichrast lighted the pipe of council, 

 while l'Encuerado clung on to the rocks and tried to meas- * 

 ure the abyss with his eye. 



We were seated near a plant with slender branches and 



