beaten as to be scarcely discernible in the faint starlight, and
which it required all Christopher's skill in woodcraft to follow. Our
travellers, consequently, often lost their way, and were obliged to get
down from their horses and grope about to ascertain the path. The stars
had shone all night through a cloudless firmament, but the deep shade of
the forest thickened around the wanderers, and it was frequently with
difficulty, even, that they could discern each other's figures.

They reached at length the small stream upon whose banks, some miles
above, was situated the place to which their steps were directed; and
they were thus rendered more sure of their road, as they had only to
follow the ascending course of the brook. The delays and impediments of
the journey had nearly outrun the night, and whilst our travellers were
yet some two or three miles from their destination, the first traces of
morning began to appear in the east. The increasing light disclosed to
them the nature of the scenery around. A limpid rivulet tumbled over a
rocky channel, girt with a profusion of brush and briar, amongst which
were scattered a thousand wild-flowers, that, renovated by the dew,
threw forth a delicious perfume. A succession of abrupt hills, covered
with the varied foliage of a rich forest growth, bounded the brook on
either side. Occasional rocks jutted above the heads of the travellers
as they wound along the paths, worn by the wild cattle in the bottom of
the dell.

Both Robinson and Shaw had dismounted when they entered this defile, and
whilst the former led the horse of the prisoner his companion preceded
him to explore the doubtful traces of the road, which frequently became
so obscure as to render it necessary to seek a passage in the bed of the
stream. During all this progress Horse Shoe's good nature and
light-heartedness were unabated. He conversed with the prisoner in the
same terms of friendly familiarity that he did with Shaw, and neglected
no attention that might in any degree relieve the irksomeness of St.
Jermyn's necessary thraldom.

That peculiar conformation of country which had given rise to the name
of the place to which they were conducting the prisoner, was now to be
discerned at some little distance ahead. It presented a series of bold
crags of granite intermixed with slate, in which rock piled upon rock
presented a succession of shelves, each beetling over its base, and thus
furnishing a shelter agai