CHIEF PRIEST OF THE SUN The rock shelf we followed became gradually somewhat wider, so I moved forward with greater freedom.

The path continued to ascend, winding unevenly along the precipitous face of the cliff, until we must have climbed nearly to the summit of the mighty bluff.

But the overhanging crest rendered it impossible for us to do more than guess the situation.

We were but ants clinging to a wall and unable to see more than a few yards ahead.

Finally we attained a point where the cliff bulged outward in a wide curve, not unlike the rounded bow of a ship, and were compelled to move with renewed caution along the narrowed shelf, which was seemingly unsupported.