y, and revealed a sight such as is not
equalled even by Niagara itself.

A succession of wall-like mountains rose in two tiers before them
literally into the clouds, for several of the lower clouds floated far
below the highest peaks, and from the summit of the highest range a
river, equal to the Thames at Richmond, dropt sheer down a fall of above
two thousand feet. Here it met the summit of the lower mountain-range,
on which it burst with a deep-toned, sullen, never-ceasing roar,
comparable only to eternal thunder. A white cloud of spray received the
falling river in its soft embrace, and sent it forth again--turbulent
and foam bespeckled--towards its second leap, another thousand feet,
into the plain below. The entire height of the fall was above three
thousand feet. Its sublimity no language can convey. Its irresistible
effect on the minds of the wanderers was to turn their thoughts to the
almighty Creator of so awe-inspiring and wonderful a scene.

Here they discovered another tree, which was so large that their
thoughts were diverted even from the extraordinary cataract for a short
time. Unlike the previous one, this monarch of the woods lay prostrate
on the ground, but its diameter near the root was so great that they
could not see over it though seated on horseback. It measured a hundred
and twenty feet in circumference, and, when standing, must have been
little, if at all, short of five hundred feet in height.

Surrounded as they were by such noble and stupendous works of God, the
travellers could not find words to express their feelings. Deep emotion
has no articulate language. The heaving breast and the glowing eye
alone indicate the fervour of the thoughts within. For a long time they
sat gazing round them in silent wonder and admiration, then they
dismounted to measure the great tree, and after that Ned sat down to
sketch the fall, while his companion rode forward to select a spot for
camping on.

Tom had not proceeded far when he came upon the track of wheels in the
grass, a sight which surprised him much, for into that remote region he
had supposed few travellers ventured, even on horseback. The depth and
breadth of the tracks, too, surprised him not a little. They were much
deeper and broader than those caused by any species of cart he had yet
seen or heard of in the country, and the width apart was so great, that
he began to suspect he must have mistaken a curious freak of nature for
the