for companions; but as they reflected thus, they
could not hinder their thoughts from casting forward into the future--
perhaps not distant--when one of them might leave that valley without
the aid of either rope-ladders or balloons; and then another--leaving
the last of the three lonely and forlorn!

With such sad reflections did they pass the evening of that day, and the
morning and evening of that which followed. They took no heed of time;
and could scarce summon sufficient energy to cook their frugal meals.
The spirit to plan, and the energy to act, seemed both to have departed
from them at once and for ever.

This state of things could not long continue. As already said, the soul
of man holds within itself a power of resuscitation. So long as it
continues to live, it may hope to recover from the heaviest blow.
Broken hearts are more apparent than real; and even those that are worst
shattered have their intervals in which they are restored to a perfect
soundness. The slave in his chains, the prisoner within his dark
dungeon, the castaway on his desert isle, all have their hours of joy--
perhaps as vivid and lasting as those of the king upon his throne, or
the conqueror in his car of triumph.

On earth there is no happiness unmingled with alloy; and, perhaps, there
is no sorrow that may not in time find solace.

On the second clay succeeding their last great disappointment, the
spirits of all three began to revive; and those natural wants--which,
whether we will or not, force themselves upon our attention--commenced
to claim their consideration.

Karl was the first to recognise these necessities. If they were to live
there for life, he reasoned,--and this seemed no longer a doubtful
supposition,--it would be of no use, giving way to despondency--moping
out their days like mutes at a funeral. Better far to lead an active
life; and live well too--by providing plenty to eat and plenty to
drink--which with industry they could easily do. All this might not
make them cheerful; but they would certainly be less a prey to
melancholy while engaged in some active industry, than if they remained
brooding over their fate.

These thoughts, as we have said, arose on the morning of the second day
succeeding that on which the balloon had been abandoned. Karl gave
words to them, in an attempt to cheer his brother Caspar--who had
relapsed into a state of unusual despondency. Ossaroo equally required
cheering; and there