ad scrambled, now we
climbed. We had left vegetation behind us, and were face to face
with the naked rock that forms the actual Peak. At the foot of this
Peter called a halt, and pointed out the first set of chains.
Without these, in my weak state I could never have attempted the
ascent. Even as it was, my eye was dazed and my head swam and reeled
as I hung like a fly upon the dizzy side. But clutching with
desperation the chains riveted in the living rock, I hauled myself up
after Peter, and sank down thoroughly worn out upon the brink.

"It now wanted but little before daybreak would be upon us. As I
gathered myself up for a last effort, I remembered that amid the
growth into which we were now to plunge, stood the tree of seven
trunks which was to be my mark. But my chance was small of noting it
by the light of these flaring torches that distorted every object,
and wreathed each tree into a thousand fantastic shapes. Plainly I
must stake my hopes on the descent next day; at any rate, I would
scale the summit before I began my search.

"We had plunged into the thicket of rhododendrons, whose crimson
flowers showed oddly against the torches' gleam, and I was busy with
these thoughts, when suddenly my ankle gave way, and I fell heavily
forward. My two guides were beside me in an instant, and had me on
my feet again.

"'All's good,' said Peter, 'but lucky it not happen otherwhere.
Only take care for last chain. But what bad with him?'

"He might well ask; for there, full in front of my eyes that strained
and doubted, glimmered a huge trunk cleft into seven--yes, seven--
branches that met again and disappeared in a mass of black foliage.
It was my father's tree.

"So far then the parchment had not lied. Here was the tree,
'noticeable and not to be missed,' and barely thirty-two paces from
the spot where I was standing lay the key to the treasure which I had
travelled this weary distance to seek. But the time for search had
not yet come. By the clear light of day and alone I must explore the
secret. It would keep for a few hours longer.

"Dismissing my pre-occupied manner which had caused no small
astonishment to Peter and Paul, I fixed the position of the tree as
firmly as I could in my mind, and gave the word to advance.

"We then continued in the same order as before, whilst, to make
matters sure, I counted our steps. I had reached six hundred and
twenty-though when I considered the darkness and th