ester was of
opinion that, failing to detect any sign of the fugitives, and the dogs
being unable to pick up the scent, a suspicion might occur to the minds
of the pursuers that their prey was still lurking in some precarious
resting-place on the face of the precipice, and, in that case, no doubt
a strict watch would be maintained for some hours; but as to how long it
would be before the patience of the watchers became exhausted, or before
the conviction should thrust itself upon them that the fugitives had
escaped, he could of course form no opinion. But, having thus far
evaded capture, he thought it would be only prudent to make sure that
the coast was clear before proceeding further in the prosecution of
their flight.

Having come to this conclusion, he returned to the inner recesses of the
cave, acquainted Tom with his intention to make a trip of exploration as
far, if necessary, as the top of the cliff, and forthwith set out upon
his mission.

George's first act, on issuing from the fissure, was to cast a look
aloft, in order that he might judge of the nature of the task still
before them. The sight was anything but encouraging, the task of
climbing that vertical face--perfectly smooth, to all intents and
purposes, the projections and inequalities being so slight as to be
barely distinguishable beyond a height of twenty or five-and-twenty
feet--seeming to him, even after his recent experience of
cliff-climbing, a sheer impossibility. To climb it, even unencumbered
as he then was, was a task not to be lightly entered upon, and he
determined that, before attempting it, he would seek further, and
endeavour to discover a somewhat less difficult path to the summit.

With this object in view, he continued his way along the rocky platform
upon which he was then standing, until he rounded a sharp angle, where
it abruptly came to an end, and gave place to a rough, jagged, and
broken face, very similar to that which they had ascended on the
previous evening. Casting his eye over and up this uneven face, in an
effort to pick out the most suitable path, his gaze was arrested by the
sight of a bush growing out of the face of the rock. The bush was only
some ten feet distant, and he was therefore close enough to it, not only
to see that it was evidently a species of wild raspberry, but also to
discern the very welcome circumstance that it was literally bending
beneath its weight of ripe fruit. He was not long in making