So far as he had explored, his view toward the interior of the country had been impeded by rocks and hills.

Here he had a clear view from the mountains to the sea, and the ridge which he had before seen to the southward he could now examine to greater advantage.
It was this long chain of rocks which had concealed them from their enemies, and on the other side of which must be the ravine in which the Rackbirds had made their camp.
Immediately below the captain was a little gorge, not very deep nor wide, and from its general trend toward the east and south the captain was sure that it formed the upper part of the ravine of the Rackbirds.

At the bottom of it there trickled a little stream.

To the northeast ran another line of low rock, which lost itself in the distance before it blended into the mountains, and at the foot of this must run the stream which had fed the lake.
In their search for water, game, or fellow-beings, no one had climbed these desolate rocks, apparently dry and barren.

But still the captain was puzzled as to the way the water had gone out of the lake.