He stood upon the highest vantage-point that he could attain with safety, where a shaggy gnarl of the all-pervading ivy served as a friendly stay.
"Springhaven A Tale of the Great War"
R. D. Blackmore
"That is the truth," said Iaran in a voice of lamentation, and her face took on a gnarl and a writhe and a solidity of ugly woe that beat the other two and made even her father marvel.
"Irish Fairy Tales"
James Stephens
After that, bewilderment began to cease as, under his amused, painstaking fingers, thread after thread of the involved gnarl of plots and politics betrayed its course.
"Jimgrim and Allah's Peace"
Talbot Mundy