484 
MERGE TO GYRENE. 
sued a different track were discovered on the opposite side of a 
ravine, and we flattered ourselves that they had succeeded in finding 
the right path ; it was impossible however for us to join them with- 
out retracing our steps, and we knew that we should never have 
been able to get our horses down the hill, which had cost them so 
many leaps and heavy falls to ascend ; nothing therefore was left but 
to push on as well as we could, and after four hours’ labour, such as 
we never experienced, and have certainly no wish to encounter 
again, we reached the top of the range and stopped a few minutes 
to refresh our horses, who were covered with foam, and trembling so 
much with terror and fatigue that a halt had become unavoidable. 
They had been, like ourselves, for nearly two days without water, 
and the heat of the weather, joined to the exertions which were 
necessary, had rendered thirst doubly annoying. On arriving at the 
summit of the range our view was still impeded by wood, and though 
we climbed several trees, to look out for an object which might guide 
us on the way which still remained for us to take, we could not suc- 
ceed in overtopping the forest which lay between us and Gyrene. Our 
course was therefore still doubtful, and in a short interval which we 
devoted to rest, it was proposed that some of us should push on in 
advance, leaving the horses in charge of the others, and endeavour to 
find some opening : this was accordingly done, till our voices could 
scarcely be heard by each other, but still without any success. 
Beyond this distance it would not have been prudent to go, as we 
should scarcely have found one another again, had we ventured to 
ramble out of hearing. As it was, we experienced some difficulty in 
