The soil, as it were, slid under their feet.
The slope often presented such an angle that they slipped when the stones worn by the air did not give a sufficient support.

Evening came on by degrees, and it was almost night when Cyrus Harding and his companions, much fatigued by an ascent of seven hours, arrived at the plateau of the first cone.

It was then necessary to prepare an encampment, and to restore their strength by eating first and sleeping afterwards.

This second stage of the mountain rose on a base of rocks, among which it would be easy to find a retreat.

Fuel was not abundant.
However, a fire could be made by means of the moss and dry brushwood, which covered certain parts of the plateau.