It was, however, quite old, for in several places the fragments were cemented together with a thick coat of lichen.

The purpose of the circle is a matter of conjecture.
We were now obliged, as the guide did not seem to know any more of the country, to explore ahead of us before the main body of the expedition could proceed further.

Several of us went out in different directions, and I happened to strike the right course, which here unexpectedly goes first northward.

Accompanied by my dog "Apache," I walked in the fresh morning air through the sombre pine woods, the tops of which basked in glorious sunshine, and along the high cordon, which ran up to a height of 8,900 feet (the highest point reached on my first expedition over the Sierra Madre), until I came to a point where it suddenly terminated.

But I soon ascertained that a spur branching off to the east would lead us in the right direction.
I sat down to gaze upon the magnificent panorama of the central part of the Sierra Madre spread out before me.