“Have you ever been up?” the man asked, staring at him wonderingly.
“No; but I believe the ascent will be pretty easy, and I have a reason for going.”
“Is he mad?” whispered the man to Bart. “Why, nothing but a fly could climb up there.”
“Mad? No,” replied Bart, smiling. “Wait a bit, and you’ll see.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have believed there was a way through here!” said the man, slapping his leg, and laughing heartily, as they reached the narrow slit, crept through, and then stood with the long slope above them ready for the ascent. “It seems as if nature had done it all in the most cunning way, so as to make a hiding-place.”
“And a stronghold and fort for us,” said Bart. “I think when once we get this place in order, we may set at defiance all the Indians of the plains.”
“If they don’t starve us out, or stop our supply of water,” said Joses, gruffly. “Man must eat and drink.”
By this time the Doctor was leading the way up the long rugged slope, that seemed as if it had been carved by water constantly rushing down, though now it was perfectly dry. It was not above ten feet wide, and the walls were in places almost perpendicular.
It was a toilsome ascent, for at varying intervals great blocks of stone barred the path, with here and there corresponding rifts; but a little labour enabled the party to surmount these, and they climbed on till all at once the path took a new direction, going back as it were upon itself, but always upward at a sufficiently stiff angle, so as to form a zigzag right up the face of the mountain.
“It is one of the wonders of the world,” exclaimed the Doctor, enthusiastically.