They turned the south angle and followed the left bank of the river, which was abandoned at the point where it formed an elbow towards the southwest.

The path, already trodden under the evergreen trees, was found, and at nine o'clock Cyrus Harding and his companions had reached the western border of the forest.

The ground, till then, very little undulated, boggy at first, dry and sandy afterwards, had a gentle slope, which ascended from the shore towards the interior of the country.

A few very timid animals were seen under the forest-trees.

Top quickly started them, but his master soon called him back, for the time had not come to commence hunting; that would be attended to later.