Not a tree, not a shrub, not a bed of moss was to be seen; all was bare wet rock.

A confused heap of mould, with branches and roots sticking out of it in all directions, lay at its foot, closing the view upward.

The other side of the heap was beaten by the raging burn.

They could hear, though they could not see it.

Any moment the barrier might give way, and the water resume its course.
They made haste, therefore, to climb the opposite bank.