The plan succeeded perfectly well.

They soon descended into a valley, where they found a little brook flowing over a bed of moss-covered stones.
They followed this brook down for about a mile, when they came to a junction between the brook that they were following and another one.
After this junction of course the stream was larger, and in many places they found it difficult to get along.

The way was encumbered with bushes, rocks, and fallen trees, and in one place the stream flowed in a foaming torrent through the bottom of a deep chasm, with sides rising directly out of the water.

Here the travelers were obliged to find a way at a distance from the brook--guiding themselves, however, by the sound of its roaring.

After passing the chasm, they got back to the stream again.
They came out into the open country about one o'clock, and found to their great joy that they were very near the place where the horses were pastured.