VI
Fulviac's lair lay deep within the waving wilderness of pines. Abovethe spires of the forest, a massive barrier of rock thrust up its ruggedbartisans into the blue. East and west it stretched a mile or more,concavitated towards the north, and standing like a huge breakwater amidthe sea of boughs.
The rocky plateau above was peopled by pines and rowans, thatched alsowith a wild tangle of briar, whin, and heather. Crannies cleft into it;caves tunnelled its massive bosom; innumerable minarets of stone mingledwith the wind-wracked trees. The cliffs rose like the walls of a castledonjon from the forest floor, studded with dwarf trees, bearded withferns and grass. The plateau was inaccessible from the forest save by athin rocky track, where the western slope of the cliff tailed off tomerge into the trees.
The significance of the place to Fulviac lay in the existence of acavern or series of caves piercing the cliff, and opening both upon thesouthern and northern facades of the mass. A wooden causeway led to thesouthern entry, bridging a small gorge where a stream foamed under thepines. The yawn of the southern opening had been built up with greatblocks of stone, and the rough walls pierced by narrow squints, and agate opening under a rounded arch.
Within, the roof of the main cavern arched abruptly upwards, hollowing agreat dome over the smooth floor beneath. This grotesque androck-ripped hall served as guard-room and dormitory, a very variouschamber. Winding ways smote from it into the black bowels of the cliff.The height of the main cavern dwindled as it tunnelled northwards intothe rock. A second wall of stone partitioned the guard-room from asecond and smaller chamber, lit always by a great lamp pendent from theceiling, a chamber that served Fulviac as state-room.
From Fulviac's parlour the cavern narrowed to a throat-like gallery thathad been expanded by human craft into a third and smaller room. Thislast rock chamber was