Toby，whoinvariablyactedaspioneer，nowproceededtoreconnoitre。Onhisreturn，hereportedthattheshelvesofrockonourrightwouldenableustogainwithlittleriskthebottomofthecataract。Accordingly，leavingthebedofthestreamattheverypointwhereitthundereddown，webegancrawlingalongoneoftheseslopingledgesuntilitcarriedustowithinafewfeetofanotherthatinclineddownwardatastillsharperangle，anduponwhich，byassistingeachother，wemanagedtoalightinsafety。Wewarilycreptalongthis，steadyingourselvesbythenakedrootsoftheshrubsthatclungtoeveryfissure。Asweproceeded，thenarrowpathbecamestillmorecontracted，renderingitdifficultforustomaintainourfooting，untilsuddenly，aswereachedanangleofthewallofrockwherewehadexpectedittowiden，weperceivedtoourconsternation，thatayardortwofartheronitabruptlyterminatedataplacewecouldnotpossiblyhopetopass。
Toby，asusual，ledthevan，andinsilenceIwaitedtolearnfromhimhowheproposedtoextricateusfromthisnewdifficulty。
“Well，myboy，“Iexclaimed，aftertheexpirationofseveralminutes，duringwhichtimemycompanionhadnotutteredaword:
“what’stobedonenow？“
Herepliedinatranquiltonethatprobablythebestthingwecoulddointhepresentstraitwastogetoutofitassoonaspossible。