The path was so winding, that, as he looked round bewildered, he could not even imagine how he came there.

To retrace his steps, seemed quite as difficult as to proceed.

The sun too had declined, or was effectually concealed by the towering rocks, for sudden darkness seemed around him.

There was but one way, and Stanley prepared to scale the precipitous crag before him with more eagerness than he would a beaten path.

He threw off his cloak, folded it in the smallest possible compass, and secured it like a knapsack to his shoulders, slung his sword over his neck, and, with a vigorous spring, which conquered several paces of slippery rock at once, commenced the ascent.