The sure-footed donkeys had no difficulty whatever in climbing along this natural path, and the result was that for several miles the party made comparatively rapid progress.
As they went further up the gully became smaller, and at last they had to force their way again through a section of forest.
The undergrowth here was not as thick as it was at the river bank, and it was not long before they crossed the highest point of the ledge and began to descend.
Shortly after that they came as Trim had hoped they would to another stream.
This time the bed of the stream was not dry but it nevertheless allowed of a much easier passage down the mountain than could have been found by going directly through the forest.
They followed along this stream sometimes upon its banks, sometimes wading in it, until they came to the top of a waterfall.
There Trim called to the party to halt until he should be able to find a way down the ledge.
There was a descent of about fifty feet and the spray that came up from below hung like a cloud over the edge of the precipice.
Glad of a chance to rest, the men threw themselves upon the ground while Trim wandered along the edge of the cliff.
He had no sooner got beyond the cloud of spray than he stopped abruptly and took out his spyglass. The spray rising from the waterfall had concealed the country lying around completely.