sued a different track were discovered on the opposite side of a
ravine, and we flattered ourselves that they had succeeded in finding
the right pa th ; it was impossible however for us to join them without
retracing our steps, and we knew that we should never have
been able to get our horses down the hill, which had cost them so
many leaps and heavy falls to ascend; nothing therefore was left but
to pusli on as well as we could, and after four hours’ labour, such as
we never experienced, and have certainly no wish to encounter
again, we reached the top of the range and stopped a few minutes
to refresh our horses, who were covered with foam, and trembling so
much with terror and fatigue that a halt had become unavoidable.
They had been, like ourselves, for nearly two days without water,
and the heat of the weather, joined to the exertions which were
necessary, had rendered thirst doubly annoying. On arriving at the
summit of the range our view was still impeded by wood, and though
we climbed several trees, to look out for an object which might guide
us on the way which still remained for us to take, we could not succeed
in overtopping the forest which lay between us and Cyrene. Our
course was therefore still doubtful, and in a short interval which we
devoted to rest, it was proposed that some of us should push on in
advance, leaving the horses in charge of the others, and endeavour to
find some opening: this was accordingly done, till our voices could
scarcely be. heard by each other, but still without , any success.
Beyond this distance it would not have been prudent to go,, as we
should scarcely have found one another again, had we ventured to
ramble out of hearing. As it was, we experienced some difficulty in
re-assembling our little party, consisting of four, and began once more
to lead our horses forward who were very unwilling to move. After
some further search, we came suddenly on a path which crossed us
at right angles in our course; and as it was broad and evidently led
through the wood, we determined at all events to follow it. I t continued
to be practicable and commodious, to our great relief and
satisfaction; and we forgot, for a time, all our troubles, in the prospect'
of a speedy release from the embarrassment which our trip over
the hill had brought upon us.
This path was very fortunately the right one, and led direct from
Cyrene to Apollonia ; but as it came into the plain at some distance
from the point at which we began to ascend, and was wholly concealed
by the wood which covered the sides of the mountain, it
escaped our observation altogether, till we crossed it at the top of
the range. After following it for some time we came to an open
space, and were gratified with a view of Cyrene, which in the course
of a few hours more we reached, and found ourselves once again by
the side of the fountain which appeared to us, after our long abstinence,
more attractive and beautiful than ever.
We found on inquiry that our camels and baggage had not
arrived, a circumstance which rather surprised us, as we expected
from the view which we had had upon the road that they would
have been in advance of us. Two men were immediately despatched
in search of them, carrying a skin of water which we knew
from our own experience would be acceptable, and after sun-set
we had the pleasure of seeing them arrive without any material loss