And with his hand he pointed to a baobab-tree growing on the side of the ravine, its enormous roots hanging down over the side of the cliff where the rock had broken off.
“This root has forced its way through a crevice between the wall and the rock and has grown so long and so thick that it has split the rock off. That seems strange, for stone is harder than wood, but I do know that such things happen in the mountains. A rock like this, which has scarcely any hold, breaks off at the least jar.”
“But what could have jarred it so?”
“That’s difficult to say. Perhaps a previous storm, perhaps yesterday’s rain.”
Saba had remained behind the caravan, but now he came running up, as if some one were pulling him back by the tail, sniffed, squeezed himself through the small passage between the hedge and the fallen rock, and then immediately began to back out, his hair standing on end.
Stasch dismounted to see what had frightened the dog.
“Stasch, don’t go,” begged Nell; “perhaps there is a lion there.”
But the boy, who loved to boast of his wonderful deeds, and who since the events of the day before had been greatly enraged against lions, answered:
“That’s great! A lion—by day!”
But before he had time to approach the passage Kali’s voice was heard from above the gorge.