Invigorated and rested, the three men resumed their march. The far end of the valley was penned in between two lofty walls of rock. As it ran through this narrow gorge the stream was transformed into a torrent, and the outlet came into view.
An almost flat country, displaying all the luxuriant fertility of the tropics, spread as far as the first belts of the range. What a difference from the region watered by the upper reaches of the Montrose! A couple of miles away to the south-east, a liquid ribbon unrolled, gleaming in the sun, no doubt flowing to join the Montrose.
Southwards, as far as the foot of the mountains, for fifteen miles or more, plains and forests succeeded one another. The marching was often heavy. The ground was thickly covered with grass five and six feet high, with tall reeds studded with prickly plumes, and with sugar-canes waving in the breeze as far as eye could see. There was no doubt it would be possible to develop with vast profit all these natural products which, at this period, formed the principal wealth of over-sea dominions.
When Mr. Wolston and the two young men had walked for four solid hours, Ernest said:
"I vote we call a halt."
"What, already?" exclaimed Jack, who had as little desire to rest as his dog had.
"I agree with Ernest," said Mr. Wolston. "This seems a suitable spot, and we can spend the night at the edge of this copse of nettle-trees."
"Well, then, let us camp," said Jack, "and have dinner, too, for my stomach's empty."
"Must we light a fire and keep it up till daylight?" Ernest asked.
"It would be wise," Jack declared; "that is the best way to keep wild beasts off."