The trail followed along the bank of the stream for some distance, and then crossed it on a bridge of fallen trees.
After that, it was very steep until it reached the summit of the hill.
Although the trees were rather thick, the moonlight came in on the eastern slope sufficiently to make the way clear.
It was different when Nick began to descend upon the other side.
That slope was in shadow, for the moon was not high enough to light it, and more than once he found it difficult to keep on the path.
Once he thought he had lost it, and he was thinking that it would make him feel rather foolish to get lost at night in these woods.
“Better have kept to the road,” he muttered, standing still.
There was a very steep descent just before him.
He could see hardly anything, but he felt that the ground was dipping sharply.