Yet he had done so, and now the
team was slowly creeping down the narrow ledge utilised as a road, the
slipping wheels securely locked, as they drifted here and there about
the sharp corners, ever descending into the unknown depths.
The cliffs arose precipitously on either side, absolutely bare. To the
left nothing could be seen but black rock, but on the other side an
open space yawned, perhaps twenty feet across, its bottom
imperceptible. The horses stumbled over the rough stones, held only by
Moore's firm grip on the reins, and the light began to fade as they
descended. At last nothing appeared above but a narrow strip of sky,
and the glimmer of sun had totally vanished. Almost at the same moment
the driver released the creaking brake, and at a trot the wagon swept
forward between two pinnacles of rock, and came out into an open valley.
The transition was so sudden and startling as to cause the girl to give
utterance to a cry of surprise. She had been clinging desperately to
the seat in front, expecting every instant to be hurled headlong.
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