Had not his brother spoken of wealth that he should win by the aid of a woman?
And had not a woman come to him, bearing in her hand a jewel which, if real, was in itself worth a moderate fortune; promising also, with the help of another woman, to lead him to a land where many such might be found?
Yes, these things were so, and it may be pardoned to Leonard if, setting aside the theory of coincidence, he began to believe that the end would be as the beginning had been, that the great adventure would be achieved and the wealth be won.
We shall not need to follow the footsteps of Leonard Outram and his companions day by day.

For a week they travelled on, journeying mostly by night as they had proposed.

They climbed mountains, they struggled through swamps and forests, they swam rivers.

Indeed one of these was in flood, and they never could have crossed it had it not been for Otter's powers of natation.

Six times did the dwarf face the torrent, bearing their goods and guns held above the water with one hand.