was not caused so much by the rush of the river over its bed as by the
fall of the water down a cataract. The surmise eventually proved to be
correct, for after an hour and a half of severe exertion, the latter
half-hour of which I had been journeying over steeply-rising ground, I
found myself beside a considerable stream, the waters of which, about a
hundred yards higher up, came foaming and tumbling down from a height of
some fifty feet, through a deep cleft in the face of the rock, into a
deep, transparent pool, from whence they passed away over a rocky bed,
and wound out of sight among the trees.

It was a lovely spot upon which I had thus stumbled. The ground rose
abruptly on both sides of the stream; that on the opposite side being a
rocky precipice, the strata of variously-coloured stone twisted and
contorted in the most extraordinary manner, geraniums of various hues
growing out from between the interstices of the rock, and the summit of
the precipice crowned with a rich profusion of trailing creepers, some
of which, notwithstanding the time of year, were in blossom, and the
perfume of which scented the air.

Round the mossy rim of the basin into which the waters fell, and which
appeared to be always damp with spray, grew a profusion of exquisitely
delicate ferns; the sward beyond was thickly starred with a species of
double daisy and the elegant hyacinth, and enclosing all was the pine
wood through which I had been travelling.

The beauties of the place, however, had no attraction for me until I had
in some measure assuaged my burning thirst, which I did by going down
upon my hands and knees on a convenient rock, and plunging my heated
face into the cool, pellucid water. I was careful to drink at first
with extreme moderation, and then, having satisfied the first sharp
craving for a draught, I stripped and plunged in, treating myself to as
thorough an ablution as was possible in the absence of my cake of old
brown Windsor. Refreshed and invigorated with the bath, I at length
emerged, and dressing with all expedition, sat down to discuss my
biscuits, which I disposed of to the last mouthful, gazing admiringly
upon my surroundings meanwhile.

My meal finished, it became necessary for me to set out forthwith in
search of the road which was to guide me to my destination. I had no
intention whatever of retracing my steps over the ground already
traversed. In the first place, I was exceedingly doubtful whet