The path they chose led to a wood on the side of a hill, and they entered, glad of the shade of the trees.
At first, it appeared like any common grove, but they soon came to a deep descent, on the summit of which they stood, looking down on the tree-tops, which were softly waving far beneath their feet.

There was a path leading sharp down, and they followed it; the ledge of rock made it almost like going down steps, and their walk grew into a bounding, and their bounding into a run, before they reached the lowest plane.

A green gloom reigned there; it was the still hour of noon; the little birds were quiet in some leafy shade.

They went on a few yards, and then they came to a circular pool overshadowed by the trees, whose highest boughs had been beneath their feet a few minutes before.

The pond was hardly below the surface of the ground, and there was nothing like a bank on any side.