Against that rock no ladder could have been set; none would have rested there-- since it could not be placed even perpendicularly.

There was no attempt made to take one up.

Though the projection could not be discerned from below, Karl, standing on the topmost round of the last ladder that had been planted, saw at once, with the eye of an engineer, that the difficulty was insurmountable.

It would be as easy for them to fly, is to stand a ladder upon that ill-starred ledge; and with this conviction fully impressed upon his mind, the young plant-hunter returned slowly and sorrowfully to the ground to communicate the disagreeable intelligence to his companions.
It was no use for either Caspar or Ossaroo to go up again.

They had been on the ledge already; and had arrived at the same conviction.
Karl's report was final and conclusive.
All their ingenuity defeated--all their toil gone for nothing--their time wasted--their hopes blighted--the bright sky of their future once more obscured with darkest clouds--all through that unforeseen circumstance.
Just as when they returned out of the cavern--after that patient but fruitless search--just as then, sate they down upon the rocks--each staggering to that which was nearest him--sad, dispirited, forlorn.
There sate they, with eyes now fixed upon the ground, now turning towards the cliff and gazing mechanically upon that serried line, like the stairway of some gigantic spider--those long ladders, planted with so much pains, climbed only once, and never to be climbed again!.