In the center was the tallest hill, which seemed to end abruptly towards the south-west.

On the north-east side it was connected with a rocky promontory by a ridge of easy grade.

The sailor turned to the south-west, as offering the most likely direction for rapid survey.
He followed the line of vegetation; there the ground was firm and level.

There was no suggestion of the mariner's roll in his steady gait.

Alter his clothing, change the heavy boots into spurred Wellingtons, and he would be the _beau ideal_ of a cavalry soldier, the order of Melchisedec in the profession of arms.
He was not surprised to find that the hill terminated in a sheer wall of rock, which stood out, ominous and massive, from the wealth of verdure clothing the remainder of the ridge.