The farmer assured us that nothing notable had happened about the Great Eyrie for some time.

We supped at a common table with all the people of the farm; and our sleep that night was sound and wholly untroubled by premonitions of the future.
On the morrow, before break of day, we set out for the ascent of the mountain.

The height of the Great Eyrie scarce exceeds five thousand feet.

A modest altitude, often surpassed in this section of the Alleghanies.

As we were already more than three thousand feet above sea level, the fatigue of the ascent could not be great.