The party quickly left the village far behind them, and each step brought them nearer to the high mountain wall close ahead.
"How shall we get over that mountain, father?" asked Joe. "Shall we have to climb to the top?"
"No, Joe," said his father. "We shall do no climbing to-day. I believe we can go through it, if this swift river can."
"Of course we can!" shouted Jack. "Let's follow the river."
So they followed a footpath along the banks of the noisy river. Soon the banks began to grow high and steep. At last they rose straight up on both sides, until the boys could see only a narrow strip of blue sky far above them.
"The mountain has cracked open!" shouted Joe. "We are in the crack!"
"So we are!" cried Jack. "I believe the river did it. See it come tearing along!"
The path through the mountain