Even as it was, my eye was dazed and my head swam and reeled as I hung like a fly upon the dizzy side.

But clutching with desperation the chains riveted in the living rock, I hauled myself up after Peter, and sank down thoroughly worn out upon the brink.
"It now wanted but little before daybreak would be upon us.

As I gathered myself up for a last effort, I remembered that amid the growth into which we were now to plunge, stood the tree of seven trunks which was to be my mark.

But my chance was small of noting it by the light of these flaring torches that distorted every object, and wreathed each tree into a thousand fantastic shapes.

Plainly I must stake my hopes on the descent next day; at any rate, I would scale the summit before I began my search.
"We had plunged into the thicket of rhododendrons, whose crimson flowers showed oddly against the torches' gleam, and I was busy with these thoughts, when suddenly my ankle gave way, and I fell heavily forward.