At length they stood on the verge of a dark and precipitous
ravine, the abrupt sides of which were studded with
underwood, so completely interwoven, that all passage
appeared impracticable. What, however, seemed an
insurmountable obstacle, proved, in reality, an inestimable
advantage; for it was by clinging to this, in imitation
of the example set him by his companion, the young officer
was prevented from rolling into an abyss, the depth of
which was lost in the profound obscurity that pervaded
the scene. Through the bed of this dark dell rolled a
narrow stream, so imperceptible to the eye in the "living
darkness," and so noiseless in its course, that it was
not until warned by his companion he stood on the very
brink of it, Captain de Haldimar was made sensible of
its existence. Both cleared it at a single bound, in
which the activity of the female was not the least
conspicuous, and, clambering up the opposite steep,
secured their footing, by the aid of the same underwood
that had assisted them in their descent.

On gaining the other summit, which was not done without
detaching several loose stones from their sandy bed, they
again, fell into the path, which had been lost sight of
in traversing the ravine. They had proceeded along this
about half a mile, when the female suddenly stopped, and
pointing to a dim and lurid atmosphere that now began to
show itself between the thin foliage, whispered that in
the opening beyond stood the encampment of the Indians.
She then seated herself on the trunk of a fallen tree,