nd ye, for not a foot farther could I have stirred without some food;
an', sure, that's what I've not had since yesterday mornin'."

My first inquiry was as to where our friends were encamped.

"Faith, Mr. Maurice, that's jist what I cannot tell," he answered. "I
set off to try an' find ye as soon as Mounseer Jolly an' Mr. Carlos came
back; an' next mornin', when I returned, not a sign of them could I see
at the camp. Why they moved on is more than I can say, except that they
thought we should follow in their trail. Maybe they imagined the
Indians were comin' afther them; or perhaps they wanted water, and went
to look for it."

I, of course, could not conjecture what could have induced Lejoillie and
Carlos to proceed on their journey without waiting for Tim and me. "But
how came you not to shoot some game?" I inquired.

"Faith, Mr. Maurice, I had an accident, an' lost all my powder; an' it's
a mercy I didn't lose my life too. I was tryin' to light a fire, which
wouldn't blaze up, seein' the sticks were green, when what should I do
but take my powder-flask an' begin to shake a few grains on it. On a
sudden away went the flask out of my hand with a loud bang, gettin'
shivered to pieces, an' knockin' me over. I picked myself up, thinkin'
I was kilt entirely; but I wasn't the worse for it, barrin' the loss of
the powder an' the duck which I had put ready to roast; an' Caesar had a
little of his coat singed. The worst of the business was, that I could
no longer hope to shoot any game.

"Fortunately I can spare you a few charges; and we must make our stock
last as long as possible," I said. "The first thing we have to do is to
shoot something for breakfast, and to look out, on our way, for any
fruit which may help us to enjoy it."

While wandering alone, I had often been almost in despair of ever
finding my way. With Tim as my companion my spirits rose, and I felt
perfectly happy when, shortly afterwards, I brought down a fat gobbler,
which Caesar routed out of a bush close to us; while Tim, the next
instant, killed a duck. We lost no time in making up a fire to cook our
game; and we enjoyed a hearty meal, while a neighbouring pool afforded
us water to quench our thirst.

Greatly revived, we prepared to set off eastward fully expecting that
before nightfall we should be with our friends. Tim said he was certain
they were to the right of us. We had, however, gone on but a short
distance when a thick mist c