148 
THE EXCURSION. 
some timidity upon that of the girls; and 
then, entering a piece of woods, they fol¬ 
lowed a narrow path till they came to the 
mouth of a ravine or cleft, from which 
issued a pretty little brawling brook, which 
gurgled among the roots and stones 
and skipped over all sorts of small obstacles 
as though in a hurry to get out into broad 
daylight and end its course in the river. 
The sides of the ravine were very steep and 
rocky, and covered with beautiful ferns, 
mosses and all sorts of damp-loving, shade- 
loving plants. The bed of the stream was 
filled with stones of all sizes, which seemed 
to have fallen from the rocks above; and 
among these the brook wound, singing 
and fretting, with a murmuring sound 
beautiful to hear. The children uttered 
many exclamations of delight as they 
entered the gorge and began picking their 
way under the banks, which seemed to 
grow higher and to approach nearer as 
they proceeded. Annie began to look a 
little apprehensive. 
“ Are you sure we shall not lose our way ?” 
she said to Richard and David, who had 
lingered a little behind the others. 
