This peak was merely a prodigious pile of rocks, thrown together anyhow. Nevertheless there were ledges and projections on its face on which the foot could find a firm support. Still retaining the lead, Jack tested these and felt his way, and, following him cautiously, Mr. Wolston and Ernest gradually made their way up.
The surface of this third belt of the mountain was barren and desolate. There was practically no vegetation upon it.
Sometimes the surface was as smooth as glass, and a fall would have ended only at the bottom of the peak. Care had to be taken, too, not to displace any of the masses of rock, and so, perhaps, set moving an avalanche which would have rolled right down to the foot of the range.
Granite and limestone were the constituents of this mighty framework of the mountain. There was nothing to indicate a volcanic origin.
The three adventurers got halfway up the peak without mishap. But they could not entirely avoid starting some landslips.
Three or four huge rocks bounded furiously down the steeps to plunge into the depths of the forest below with a roar like thunder, repeated by the many echoes of the mountain.
At this altitude a few birds were still to be seen hovering about, sole representatives of animal life in this third belt, where, however, they did not seek to light. A few pairs of powerful birds of enormous spread of wing, leisurely flapping through the air, occasionally passed over the summit of the peak. Jack was greatly tempted to fire at them, and it would have been a great delight to him to have shot one of these vultures or gigantic condors.
More than once the young sportsman made a movement to raise his gun to his shoulder.
"What for?" Mr. Wolston called out.
"What? What for?" Jack answered. "Why, to——"