The spot they selected was a singular one.

It was at the foot of a rocky gorge, up which might be seen trees and bushes mingled with jagged rocks and dark caverns, with a lofty sierra or mountain range in the background.

In front was the beautiful valley which they had just crossed.

On a huge rock there grew a tree of considerable size, the roots of which projected beyond the rock several yards, and then, bending downwards, struck into the ground.

Creeping plants had twined thickly among the roots, and thus formed a sort of lattice-work which enclosed a large space of ground.