The darkness of the fold showed me that it was a deep, narrow gully.

However, I had no time to think of this, for I was fast in the middle of my confounded crack.

With immense labour I found a chockstone above my head, and managed to force my foot free.

The next few yards were not so difficult, and then I stuck once more.
For the crack suddenly grew shallow as the cliff bulged out above me.
I had almost given up hope, when I saw that about three feet above my head grew the tree.

If I could reach it and swing out I might hope to pull myself up to the ledge on which it grew.