Ellen found she could not lead Spades because he slid down upon her heels, so she looped the end of her reins over the pommel and left him free.

She herself managed to descend by holding to branches and sliding all the way down that slope.

She heard the horses cracking the brush, snorting and heaving.

One pack slipped and had to be removed from the horse, and rolled down.

At the bottom of this deep, green-walled notch roared a stream of water.