the exertions which they had made in carrying and erecting the ladders had so wearied them, that, despite their empty stomachs, all three were able to sleep. their slumber, however, was neither profound nor prolonged; and one and another of them awoke at intervals during the night and lay awake, reflecting upon the miserable fate that had befallen them, and the poor prospects now before them.

they were even without the ordinary consolation of knowing that they might find something to eat in the morning. before they could have any breakfast, they knew they would first have to find it in the forest. they would have to search, find, and kill, before they could eat.

but they had reason now not only to be in doubt about procuring their breakfast, but their dinner and supper—in short, their whole future subsistence. circumstances had become changed. the larder, hitherto amply provided by caspar’s hunting skill, was now quite empty; and although he could soon have replenished it had their ammunition not been destroyed, it was now quite a different thing. caspar’s power was gone along with his powder; and the deer and other quadrupeds, which were known to be yet numerous in the valley—to say nothing of the winged creatures that frequented it, could now smile at any attempt on the part of caspar to trouble them any longer with his double-barrelled detonator. the gun would hereafter be as useless as a bar of iron.

only one charge of powder for each barrel remained, and one more for karl’s rifle. when these three should be fired off, not another shot might ever again be heard ringing through that silent valley, and waking the echoes of the surrounding cliffs.

but it had not yet entered their minds that they might be unable to kill any of the wild animals with which the place abounded. had they thought so, they would have been unhappy indeed—perhaps so anxious as not to have slept another wink for that night. but they did not yet contemplate the future so despondingly. they hoped that, even without their guns, they would still be enabled to procure sufficient game for their support; and as they all lay awake, just before the breaking of the day, this became the subject of their conversation.

ossaroo still felt full confidence in his bow and arrows; and should these fail, there was his fishing-net; and if that also were to draw blank, the experienced shikaree knew a score of other schemes for circumventing the beasts of the earth, the birds of the air, and the finny denizens of the water. karl expressed his determination, as soon as spring should return, to commence cultivating certain edible roots and plants, which grew rather sparsely around, but, by the careful propagation of which, a crop might be procured of sufficient abundance. moreover, they resolved that in the following year they should store up such wild fruits and berries as were fit for food; and thus insure themselves against any chance of famine for months to come. the failure of their late attempt with the ladders had reproduced within them the firm though fearful conviction, that for the rest of their lives they were destined to dwell within the mountain valley—never more to go beyond the bounds of that stupendous prison-like wall that encircled them.

with this impression now freshly stamped upon their minds, they returned to speculate on the means of present existence, as also on that of their more immediate future; and in this way did they pass the last hour of the night—that which was succeeded by the daybreak.

as the first streaks of dawning day appeared upon the snowy summits—several of which were visible from the door of the hut—all three might have been seen outside preparing themselves for the execution of some important design. their purpose might easily be told from the character of their preparations. caspar was charging his double-barrelled gun; and carefully too—for it was the “last shot in his locker.”

karl was similarly employed with his rifle, while ossaroo was arming himself in his peculiar fashion, looking to the string of his bow, and filling the little wicker bag, that constituted his quiver, with sharp-pointed arrows.

from this it was evident that the chase was the occupation immediately intended, and that all three were about to engage in it. in truth, they were going out in search of something for their breakfast; and if a keen appetite could ensure success, they could scarce fail in procuring it: for they were all three as hungry as wolves.

fritz, too, was as hungry as any of them; and looked as if he meant to do his best in helping them to procure the material for a meal. any creature, beast or bird, that should be so unfortunate as to come within clutching distance of his gaunt jaws, would have but little chance on that particular morning of escaping from them.

it had been resolved upon that they should go in different directions: as by that means there would be three chances of finding game instead of one; and as something was wanted for breakfast, the sooner it could be procured the better. if ossaroo should succeed in killing anything with his arrows, he was to give a shrill whistle to call the others back to the hut; while if either of them should fire, of course the shot would be heard, and that would be the signal for all to return.

with this understanding, and after some little badinage about who would be the successful caterer, they all set forth, caspar going to the right, ossaroo to the left, and karl, followed by fritz, taking the centre.