It looked as if, could I only get to the bottom of that, I should be on comparatively level ground.

I then attempted to descend in the watercourse, but, finding that impracticable, climbed on the hill again and let myself down by the heather, for it was very steep and full of deep holes.

With great fatigue I got to the bottom, but when about to cross the watercourse there, it looked so deep in the dim twilight that I felt afraid.

I got down as far as I could by the root of a tree, and threw down a stone; it sounded very hollow, and made me afraid to jump.

The shepherds told me afterward, if I had, I should probably have killed myself, it was so deep and the bed of the torrent full of sharp stones.
I then tried to ascend the hill again, for there was no other way to get off it, but soon sunk down utterly exhausted.