the gov'nor, and I must find him. I will find him,
pore chap. Want to think it out cool like, and I'm as hot as if I'd
been runnin' a mile. Now then; he's gone down, and he must ha' gone
strite down here, so if I lets myself slither gently I'm sure to come
upon him, for I shall be pulled up same as he'd be."

He lay panting, still, for a few minutes, and his thinking powers, which
had been upset by the suddenness of the scare, began to settle
themselves again. Then he listened as he went on, putting, as he
mentally termed it, that and that together.

"Can't hear nothing of him," he said to himself. "He must have gone
down with a rush 'stead o' falling in a fit as I thought fust; but it
ain't like a fall. He wouldn't smash hisself, on'y rub some skin off,
and he'll be hollering to me d'reckly from somewheres below. Oh dear!
if it only warn't so precious dark I might see him: but there ain't no
moon, and no stars now, and it's no use to light a match. I say, why
don't he holler?--I could hear him a mile away--or use his whistle?
He'd know that would bring me, and be safer than shouting. But I can't
hear nothing on him. Here: I know."

Gedge rose to his feet and drove his bayonet into the snow to steady
himself, without turning either to the right or the left.

"Mustn't change front," he said, "or I may go sliding down wrong and
pass him," he thought. Then raising his hand, he thrust two fingers
into his mouth and produced a long drawn whistle, which was a near
imitation of that which would be blown by an officer to bring his men
together to rally round him and form square.

"That ought to wake him up," he thought. "He'd hear that if he was
miles away."

There was a faint reply which made his heart leap; and thrusting his
fingers between his lips, he whistled again in a peculiar way, with the
result that the sound came back as before, and Gedge's heart sank with
something akin to despair.

"'Tain't him," he groaned. "It's them blessed eckers. I'll make sure,
though."

He stood listening for some minutes, and then, with his heart feeling
like lead, took off his helmet and wiped his dripping brow.

"Oh dear!" he groaned; "ain't it dark! Reg'lar fog, and cold as cold.
Makes a chap shiver. I dunno how it is. When I'm along with him I feel
as bold as a lion. I ain't afeared o' anything. I'd foller him
anywheres, and face as many as he'd lead me agen. 'Tain't braggin', for
I've done it; but I'm bl