Shoe Mountain, and then going up around the point, she kept close
under the back of the range until she had got immediately in the
rear of the round bend of the "Horse Shoe," behind Hurricane Hall.

"Well," said Cap, as she drew rein here, and looked up at the lofty
ascent of gray rocks that concealed Hurricane Hall, "to have had to
come such a circuit around the outside of the 'Horse Shoe,' to find
myself just at the back of our old house, and no farther from home
than this! There's as many doubles and twists in these mountains as
there are in a lawyer's discourse! There, Gyp, you needn't turn back
again and pull at the bridle, to tell me that there is a storm
coming up and that you want to go home! I have no more respect for
your opinion than I have for Mrs. Condiment's. Besides, you carry a
damsel-errant in quest of adventures, Gyp, and so you must on, Gyp--
you must on!" said Capitola, forcibly pulling her horse's head
around, and then taking a survey of the downward path.

It was a scene fascinating from its very excess of gloom and terror!

It was a valley so deep and dark as to merit the name of the hollow,
or hole, but for its great extent and its thick growth of forest,
through which spectral-looking rocks gleamed, and moaning waters
could be heard but not seen.

"Now, somewhere in that thick forest, in the bottom of that vale,
stands the house--well called the Hidden House, since not a chimney
of it can be seen even from this commanding height! But I suppose
this path that leads down into the valley may conduct me to the
building! Come along, Gyp! You needn't turn up your head and pull at
the bit! You've got to go! I am bound this night to see the outside