Ruby's Reward — page 118: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘Yes, many people: Ihave been over | once, but 1 hardly think itis a safe ox-- ploit, for a little giddiness, a single misstep | might send one to the bottom of the ravine, | while there is no way of egress on the oppo- site side, as you perceive; the rock is: almost perpendicular.” “J do not believe that anybody has crossed it this year,” Ruby remarked, ‘ for the moss grows like a carpet over it, and the ivy, trailing all about, looks as if not a single leat had been disturbed.” Walter called her attention to the view to be obtained on both sides of the Lridge, and where they could get some idea of the immense gorge, which some violent up- heaval or convulsion of nature must have opened thero in the very heart of the mountain in the ages past. It was a weird yet beautiful and im- pressive scene, for the gorgeous tints of autumn were everywhere, and made bright and lovely pictures and contrasts against the grey and moss-grown rocks. ‘How prettily that tree grows out ovor the edge of the rocks,” said Ltuby, calling Walter's attention to a birch not far from them, ‘while those wreaths of red and yellow woodbine trailing over it make it very picturesque. Oh! and I really believe there are some Cladonia Rankiferina, or reindeer lichen, grawing at the foot of it! L must have them—they are fine specimens and very rare,” and without a thought of the danger lurking on every hand, intent only upon gaining possession of the treasures that she had discovered, she sprang for- ward to eather them. comichooks.con