The journey then became less
difficult, and led by a broad footway through the forest. The arch
formed by the branches, and the great size of the trees protected the
travellers from the weather, and the many difficulties of the first
half of their way did not recur.
They had hardly gone a couple of miles through the woods before they
heard a confused noise of distant voices and the tinkling of a bell,
the silvery tones of which did not have the monotonous sound given by
the movements of cattle. Galope-Chopine listened with great attention,
as he walked along, to this melody; presently a puff of wind brought
several chanted words to his ear, which seemed to affect him
powerfully, for he suddenly turned the wearied donkeys into a by-path,
which led away from Saint-James, paying no attention to the
remonstrances of Mademoiselle de Verneuil, whose fears were increased
by the darkness of the forest path along which their guide now led
them. To right and left were enormous blocks of granite, laid one upon
the other, of whimsical shape. Across them huge roots had glided, like
monstrous serpents, seeking from afar the juicy nourishment enjoyed by
a few beeches. The two sides of the road resembled the subterranean
grottos that are famous for stalactites. Immense festoons of stone,
where the darkling verdure of ivy and holly allied itself to the
green-gray patches of the moss and lichen, hid the precipices and the
openings into several caves.
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