The crevice ended; we crawled out and sank, even Rador, upon a little leaf-carpeted clearing circled by lacy tree ferns.
Gasping, legs aching, we lay prone, relaxed, drawing back strength and breath.

Rador was first to rise.

Thrice he bent low as in homage, then-- "Give thanks to the Silent Ones--for their power has been over us!" he exclaimed.
Dimly I wondered what he meant.

Something about the fern leaf at which I had been staring aroused me.

I leaped to my feet and ran to its base.