They occasionally got a peep at the sky; and whenever a twig hung out in a position to strike Paula's face the gallant captain bent it aside with his stick.

But she did not thank him.

Perhaps he was just as well satisfied as if she had done so.
Paula, panting, broke the silence: 'Will you go on, and discover if the top is near ?' He went on.

This time the top was near.

When he returned she was sitting where he had left her among the leaves.