At length the passage became so straitened that only three fathoms' space was left between the confining walls.

When Hesdad Brook is at all full one can make his way through only with great difficulty and by boldly breasting its waters.

Therefore it is that very few people have ever seen the gate of Torda Gap.

Just above this narrow gateway is situated the natural excavation in the mountainside, called from its last defender, Balyika Cave.
As the travellers approached this spot, Aaron rode on ahead, ostensibly to ascertain whether the water was still shallow enough to wade through, but in reality to look for the preconcerted signal and remove it before Blanka should come up.

He had agreed with Manasseh, if the signal was favourable, to offer to show her the flower garden of Balyika Glen and to discourage all desire on her part to visit Balyika Cave, by alleging that it was the haunt of serpents; but if the signal should be unfavourable, he was to employ all his arts to make the young lady eager to inspect the cavern and pass the night there.
He soon returned, and reported that it would be easy to wade their horses through the gateway, after which they could go and view the wonders of Balyika Cave.
"But aren't there any snakes in the cave ?" was Blanka's first and most natural inquiry.