But my chance was small of noting it
by the light of these flaring torches that distorted every object,
and wreathed each tree into a thousand fantastic shapes. Plainly I
must stake my hopes on the descent next day; at any rate, I would
scale the summit before I began my search.
"We had plunged into the thicket of rhododendrons, whose crimson
flowers showed oddly against the torches' gleam, and I was busy with
these thoughts, when suddenly my ankle gave way, and I fell heavily
forward. My two guides were beside me in an instant, and had me on
my feet again.
"'All's good,' said Peter, 'but lucky it not happen otherwhere.
Only take care for last chain. But what bad with him?'
"He might well ask; for there, full in front of my eyes that strained
and doubted, glimmered a huge trunk cleft into seven--yes, seven--
branches that met again and disappeared in a mass of black foliage.
It was my father's tree.
"So far then the parchment had not lied. Here was the tree,
'noticeable and not to be missed,' and barely thirty-two paces from
the spot where I was standing lay the key to the treasure which I had
travelled this weary distance to seek.
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