they were completely cut off from all
communication with the world, and might never again look on human faces,
save their own!

Caspar was the first to give expression to this gloomy foreboding.

"Oh, brother!" groaned he, addressing himself to Karl, who sat nearest
to him, "oh! it is an awful fate! Here must we live, here must we die,
far away from home, far away from the world--alone--alone!"

"No," replied Karl, deeply moved by the distress of his brother, "no,
Caspar, not alone--God is with us. Let Him be our world."

However Caspar in his conscience might have acknowledged the justice of
the admonition, it failed to cheer him. Indeed, he could not help
perceiving, that Karl had uttered the speech half doubtingly, and with
the design of affording consolation. Moreover, the effort which Karl
was making to look hopeful and cheerful was evidently constrained; and
only the more convinced his companions that neither hope nor joy was in
his breast.

To Karl's consolatory words his brother made no rejoinder. Ossaroo,
however, gave vent to his thoughts by an ambiguous shake of the head,
and a brief speech characteristic of that belief in fatalism peculiar to
his race.

"Ah, sahibs," said he, addressing himself to both, "if the Great Sahib
in the sky will we go out from here, we go--if He no will, we no go--
nivvamore."

Ossaroo's speech, however compatible with a true faith, did not
contribute much towards cheering the spirits of the party; and for
another long interval all remained silent.

Caspar and Ossaroo appeared completely prostrated by the new
disappointment. Karl, on the other hand, seemed less disposed to view
things despairingly; and as he sate, was evidently engaged in active
thought.

After awhile his companions observed this; though neither made any
attempt to rouse him from his reverie. They guessed, that, whatever was
passing in his mind would soon be communicated to them.

They were right in this conjecture: for in a few minutes Karl terminated
the silence by addressing them.

"Come!" said he, speaking in a tone of encouragement, "we are wrong in
so soon yielding to despair. Let us not give up, till we are beaten at
all points. I have told you what my object was, when I first mounted
upon that ledge, and discovered the cave and its surly occupant, the
bear. I thought then, that, if we could find a series of ledges one
above another, and sufficiently near each other, we might plant la