Suddenly the pattering noise increased with tenfold
violence. It was followed by a fearful crash among the bushes, which
was rapidly repeated, as if some gigantic animal were bounding towards
us. In another moment an enormous rock came crashing through the
shrubbery, followed by a cloud of dust and small stones, and flew close
past the spot where we stood, carrying bushes and young trees along
with it.
"Pooh! is that all?" exclaimed Peterkin, wiping the perspiration off
his forehead. "Why, I thought it was all the wild men and beasts in the
South Sea Islands galloping on in one grand charge to sweep us off the
face of the earth, instead of a mere stone tumbling down the
mountainside."
"Nevertheless," remarked Jack, "if that same stone had hit any of us,
it would have rendered the charge you speak of quite unnecessary,
Peterkin."
This was true, and I felt very thankful for our escape. On examining
the spot more narrowly, we found that it lay close to the foot of a
very rugged precipice, from which stones of various sizes were always
tumbling at intervals. Indeed, the numerous fragments lying scattered
all around might have suggested the cause of the sound, had we not been
too suddenly alarmed to think of anything.
We now resumed our journey, resolving that, in our future excursions
into the interior, we would be careful to avoid this dangerous
precipice. Soon afterwards we arrived at the foot of the hill and
prepared to ascend it.
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