During the rainy season or after a heavy shower, the water doubtless bounded from rock to rock in tumultuous cascades.

But it evidently was fed only by the rain, for now we could scarcely trace its course.

It could not be the outlet of any lake within the Great Eyrie.
After an hour of climbing, the slope became so steep that we had to turn, now to the right, now to the left; and our progress was much delayed.

Soon the gorge became wholly impracticable; its cliff-like sides offered no sufficient foothold.

We had to cling by branches, to crawl upon our knees.