“They went down under there, sir. I could lead you straight to the place.”
Jack took out his small glass, and after gazing through it attentively he suddenly said—
“I saw a big bird fly down. Yes, and another.”
“They can’t be those we want,” said the doctor, “but they may be good specimens of something. What do you say, Jack, will you go down and across?”
“Oh yes,” he replied.
“It’s very steep, and will mean lowering ourselves cautiously.”
“I don’t mind,” said the lad. “If it’s very bad they will help me.”
“Oh yes, sir, we’ll help,” said Lenny, turning to his companions; “won’t us, lads?”
There was a chorus of “Ay, ays,” and the steep descent from the great grove commenced, it being necessary to get to the bottom of what became low down a precipitous gully, along which one of the springs which had its source high up in the mountain dashed along. This had to be crossed, and then there was a similar climb on the other side.
The start was made, and proved difficult enough, for where the trees were not close and their roots interlaced, there were openings where masses of volcanic rock were tumbled-together in inextricable confusion, and the way over them was made more difficult by the bushy, shrubby growth and creepers which bound them together.