“From the way Bunk has acted all along he will fight shy of Dick; even if he doesn’t know what his errand is, he will try to avoid meeting him. Besides, my brother won’t know how to handle him, as I should in his place.”
Having given up hope of climbing out of the gorge by the means already tried, Harvey inspected the other portions more minutely. He studied the path by which he had made his hasty descent when running from the buck. There was a luxuriant growth of shrubbery on the upper edge, through which he had fallen, bringing down several handfuls with him. The roots were so weak that they simply broke his fall without checking his downward course.
“I wonder whether I can get enough support to allow me to climb out there. A bush is within reach that looks as if it might hold. I’ll try it.”
By standing on tiptoe he grasped the top, upon which he began slowly pulling until he lifted himself clear. Then with the same patience he drew himself up several feet, when he had to let go and grip the bush above. This did not look so strong, but it held and he climbed two or three feet farther.
“I shall make it,” he thought with a thrill of hope; “if the next will stand it and several after that, I shall get to the top.”
But that was what did not take place. He had caught hold of the third support when it instantly came out by the roots, and he tumbled again, landing upon his back, though still without hurt, for the distance was slight.
The last attempt convinced Harvey that he was so securely trapped that he was utterly unable to help himself. Irksome as was the task he could do nothing but await the arrival of his brother.
Before his encounter with the buck, he had had a long tramp through the wilderness and he had toiled so hard to liberate himself, that he was tired in body. He sat down at the base of the bushes that had failed him and thought over the situation.
“If I had come into the mountains alone,” he reflected with a shudder, “nothing but heaven could save me from starving to death. I can’t get out and there isn’t a bit of food or a drop of water within reach. If anything should happen to Dick, it will be the end of me. But what could happen to him?” he asked in a sharp effort to drive away the frightful thought. “He is looking for Bunk and will keep it up till night, when he’ll set out to look for me. He knows where to come and won’t be long about it.”
Thus Harvey sat in melancholy reflection until the gathering gloom told him the day was drawing to a close and night was closing in. Despite his natural hopefulness, he could not fight off a depression of spirits, which after all was natural in the circumstances. He was alone in a vast solitude, no one could hear his calls for help, and Dick might hunt for hours without finding him.