dders
upon them, and so reach the top. You see that there is such a
succession of ledges--just before your faces there. Unfortunately there
is one of the spaces high up yonder--where the cliff is darkest--that
cannot be less than sixty or seventy feet in width. I have ascertained
that by comparing it with the height from the ground to the cave--which
I had just finished measuring when I met the bear. It would be
impossible for us to make a ladder that length--or even to hoist it up
there if made--so that all thought of scaling the cliff at this point
must be given up."

"Perhaps," interposed Caspar, catching at Karl's idea, "there may be
some other part of the precipice where the ledges are nearer to each
other? Did you examine it all around?"

"No. I had got no further than this place, when I met Master Bruin;
and, as you know, our adventures with him and our exploration of the
cave have taken up our time ever since, and, indeed, driven the design
of the ladders quite out of my head. Now, however, we may return to it;
and our next move will be to go all round, and see whether a better
place may not be discovered. To-night it is too late. It already
begins to darken; and we must have clear daylight for such a purpose.
Let us home to our hut, and have some supper and then go to rest--having
first prayed to Him for success. We may rise in better spirits, and
continue our examination in the morning."

To this proposal there was no objection on the part of either Caspar or
Ossaroo. On the contrary, the mention of supper--both being very
hungry--had caused them to start to their feet with remarkable alacrity;
and Karl, taking the lead, they followed him, Fritz in turn following
them.

On arriving at their hut, supper was cooked and eaten, with that zest
which hunger always gives, even to the coarsest viands; and, having
carried out the remaining part of the programme which Karl had
suggested--that is, the offering up a prayer for success on the morrow--
the trio sought their grass-covered couches with a feeling of renewed
hopefulness.

CHAPTER FIVE.

A MIDNIGHT INTRUDER.

They had been asleep several hours, when all three were suddenly
awakened by the barking of Fritz. During night hours the faithful
creature stayed habitually within the hut--where he also had his bed of
dry grass. On hearing any unusual noise without, he would rush forth
and prowl about for awhile; and, after satisfying himself th