twelve o'clock
I continued in the path for some time , by feeling the brushwood on either side ; but before I had crawled half way up the ravine , I found that the brushwood had not been cut away any farther and I was at a loss how to proceed . All traces were gone , and all I had to do was to climb up to the summit , and to take my chance of finding any egress . I toiled on with difficulty , sometimes stopped by a rock which would take me minutes to climb over at others , holding on by the brushwood for my life . By twelve o'clock I had gained more than two-thirds of the ascent , and then the moon rose , and assisted me with her light . I must say , that when I looked up and saw the rocks towering above me , and overhanging my path , I felt that escape was nearly impossible : however , I recommenced my labour , and gained some ground , when , as I was clinging to the side of a rock by a small shrub , it gave way , and I rolled and fell down many feet , between that rock and another opposite to it . I was not much hurt , and I regained my legs . Looking up and about me , I found that I was in a narrow passage , between the rocks , leading both up and down -- in fact , I had tumbled into the secret path that I had been in search of .