The descent was safe, but looked daunting, because their figures made a sharp angle with the gravel slope, and now and then a mass of dislodged stones rushed down hill.

Sometimes the girl allowed herself to slide, sometimes she ran a few yards and sprang, but she did not stumble or lose her balance.

Miss Jardine was cautious, and Festing kept near her, carrying her sack.
At the bottom they came to a wide belt of massive stones, fallen from the heights above, and their progress was slow.

One had to measure the gaps between the blocks and step carefully across, while the stones were ragged and had sharp corners.

Festing was unable to look up and followed Helen, but after a time Miss Jardine stopped, and he saw that the crags were smothered in leaden cloud and all the sky was dark.
"I must have a few minutes' rest," the tired girl declared.
As they sat down on the edge of a ponderous slab there was a crash of thunder that rolled from rock to rock, and a few big drops fell.