There was no time to think further, for the front horse was already but a few paces away. He gave a shout and threw up his hands, but the runaway did not heed him. Then, as the animal was about to strike him and knock him down, he made a wild leap into the ravine below the cliff.
It was a daring thing to do, but not so reckless as may be imagined. The bottom and the sides of the ravine were covered with a growth of pine, ash, and birch, and also some trailing plants, for which Korea is famous.
The runaways were bounding forward at a furious pace.—Page [170].
Gilbert had noted the top of a particularly dense pine tree and for this he leaped. By good luck he struck the tree fairly, coming down among a number of boughs which were as springy as one could wish. He clutched at the boughs, and thus stopped his progress before striking the rocky ground below. As he did this the runaways above shot past him, the coolie and some others of the pack train following.
“Well, that was a narrow escape,” thought the young captain. “I wonder what made the pack animals run away?”
Now was no time to speculate on the subject, and after getting back his wind, he descended to the ground beneath the tree.
The young American found himself in a dense forest. The pines predominated, but birches and ashes were not lacking, and he also noted several limes, maples, and junipers. Under the tree it was dark and chilly, and he could not help but shiver.
At first he thought to shout to those on the trail, but by the time he was in a position to do this not a soul was in sight.
“I’ve got to find my way back to that trail somehow,” was his mental observation. “And the quicker the better.”