d caldron. I threw in my roots, and sat down beside it to warm
my feet, which were benumbed with the melting snow. While my frugal
dinner was cooking, I looked about in search of my friends; but again I
was disappointed. When I thought that the roots were sufficiently
boiled, I raked them out with my stick. They were certainly more
palatable, and I hoped they would prove more nutritious.

Every hour was now of importance, for Manley and the sergeant would, I
calculated, be pushing on, under the belief that I was before them. I
had quenched my thirst with snow, for in that volcanic region I could
find no water fit to drink; it was either intensely hot, or so
impregnated with sulphur and other minerals that I was afraid to swallow
it. I saw that it would soon be necessary again to camp, so, that I
might not have to pass the night without a fire, I endeavoured to obtain
a light by means of my burning-glass, before the sun should descend too
low. The wood around was so wet that I feared, after all, I should not
succeed; but having made my way to a forest on one side of the valley, I
discovered some moss growing under the branches of a tree which had
sheltered it from the wet. Here also was abundance of dead wood. With as
much as I could carry I hurried back into the open, and sitting down,
brought the glass to bear on the now fast sinking rays of the sun. I
watched the effect with almost trembling eagerness, till, greatly to my
joy, from the small bright spot caused by the concentrated rays a thin
thread of smoke began to ascend and spread over the moss. This I blew
gently, placing over it a few twigs at a time, until I soon had a brisk
fire burning.

The place where I had lighted my fire was not one at which I wished to
camp, but once having a fire, I could carry a burning brand and ignite
another in some more convenient situation. I was not long in selecting a
spot close under a rock, where I soon had a fire blazing up. I thus had
warmth, although I was still destitute of wholesome food; and, indeed, I
found myself weaker than I had ever before been.

I was not of a disposition to give way to despondency, but sombre
thoughts would intrude. I began to fear that I might not be able to
rejoin my friends; that they, unable to find me, would suppose that I
had met with some accident, and would at length make their way to the
fort by themselves. Had I possessed my rifle and knapsack, I should have
had no fear on the subject,